Quarter-life crisis

A quarter-life crisis is a period in some people's lives during their mid-twenties and into their thirties in which they begin to question the choices they have made. It is a time filled with doubt, usually after college graduation, when people begin to determine what they want to do with their lives as they transition to adulthood. Individuals experiencing a quarter-life crisis feel stuck or behind in life compared to others. Many people believe that this concept is more prevalent in the twenty-first century because individuals are choosing to attend college and find employment before getting married, buying a house, and having children. After graduation, they feel confused about what to do with their lives as they are presented with many choices. Other factors, including college loan debt, the state of the economy, and the inability to find gainful employment, also contribute to the quarter-life crisis.

Background

In 1968, psychologist Erik H. Erikson used the phrase quarter-life crisis to describe one of the eight dilemmas that people experience during their lives. Midlife crisis is another example of these phases. Erikson believed that some people felt overwhelmed and lost once they finished school. They were used to schedules of classes with clear objectives; without structure, they struggled to find purpose and momentum.

Psychologist Jeffrey Arnett further expanded on the concept and introduced the existence of a development stage between the ages of eighteen and twenty-nine known as emerging adulthood. During this period, which is between adolescence and adulthood, emerging adults experience a soul-searching period in which they should explore what they want to do with their lives before they settle into adulthood. He credits the fact that the part of the brain responsible for controlling impulses is not fully developed until the late twenties as the reason why people in this age group tend to experience a quarter-life crisis.

Several studies about emerging adulthood followed, further bolstering the argument for delaying adulthood. Some people believed that people in their late twenties and even early thirties were not full-fledged adults and needed time to determine their paths in life. Others believed, however, that the concept of the quarter-life crisis was not an excuse to waste time. People should not put off important life events because they are afraid of becoming adults. For instance, they should not delay job-hunting to work at a bar or backpack through Europe because they think it might be more fun. They should be using this time to help them determine their paths and gain valuable experiences that will shape and define their futures.

Quarter-life crisis entered popular culture in the 2001 book Quarterlife Crisis: The Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twenties by Alexandra Robbins and Abby Wilner. The book is a nonfiction guide for individuals who are having difficulty transitioning to adulthood. The concept caught on, as many people associated themselves with the feeling that they were not achieving their full potential.

Overview

In the twenty-first century, many people believe that the economy is to blame for millennials experiencing quarter-life crises. A millennial is part of the generation generally born in the 1980s or 1990s. The effects of the Great Recession, which began in 2007, resonated for decades. Job growth in many industries slowed. Because of this, many college graduates are experiencing trouble securing employment. This, coupled with repayment of school loans, forced some to take jobs—sometimes jobs unrelated to their degrees or fields—to support themselves. Another major impact was the COVID-19 pandemic. Many college students were forced to return home to complete their degrees, and many college graduates lost their jobs.

Furthermore, it has not been uncommon for college graduates to move back home with their parents or move in with roommates because they cannot afford to live on their own. Unemployment and underemployment, or employment in a field that is not related to a person's skills or degree, have continued the cycle. The longer people struggle to find gainful employment within their skill sets, the longer they will need to depend on their parents or live with others. These living situations sometimes make individuals feel as if they are back in adolescence, wondering when they will truly become adults.

Another factor that contributes to the quarter-life crisis is choice. Having too many choices can cause a person to feel panicked and helpless. This is sometimes called fear of better options, or FOBO. It can impair a person's ability to make choices, even simple decisions such as choosing a restaurant. It can make people question every choice they make and cause fear that they may make the wrong decision and pass over a better opportunity. FOBO can also cause people to agonize over past decisions and wonder what might have been if they had made a different choice.

Comparing oneself to others also contributes to a quarter-life crisis. Many times, people compare themselves to others, such as their parents, siblings, and friends, who had achieved milestones—such as finding employment, getting married, buying a house, and having children—before they reached those stages in their own lives. Comparisons can lead people to feel a social anxiety called fear of missing out (FOMO). FOMO is a feeling of not experiencing what a person's peers are experiencing, achieving, or acquiring. The use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, or X (formerly known as Twitter) can increase feelings of FOMO, as people see their friends' posts and photographs and feel that their own lives are unfulfilling.

Those who experience a quarter-life crisis can take steps to get over these feelings of self-doubt. First, they should realize that the concept is not trivial and is a legitimate reaction to the instability felt around them in the world. They should stop comparing themselves to others, even if this means taking a break from social media. Because depression and anxiety usually accompany a quarter-life crisis, people should seek therapy or the guidance of others so they can talk through their feelings. They should also use these feelings to motivate them to pursue opportunities they might have otherwise overlooked.

Bibliography

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