A significant portion of Generation Z is experiencing a "quarter-life crisis," with almost half of individuals aged 18 to 29 reporting such struggles, according to a study led by the University of Greenwich. This phenomenon, characterized by a period of heightened difficulty, stress, and instability, affects young adults across eight countries, including the UK, Greece, Turkey, Brazil, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and the Czech Republic.
The research, published in the journal Emerging Adulthood, found that more than 30 percent of Gen Z in each surveyed nation were impacted. In the UK, 44 percent of the 280 participants reported experiencing a quarter-life crisis. Common reported feelings included negativity about oneself, fear, anxiety, and sadness.
Issues contributing to this crisis include academic pressures, transitions to higher education or new career paths, and housing instability. The study indicates that over one in five young adults are affected by each of these specific challenges. Additionally, 14 percent struggle with adult independence, 18 percent face uncertainty about future opportunities, and 15 percent grapple with identity issues.
Professor Oliver Robinson, the study's leader, drew parallels between the quarter-life crisis and midlife or later-life crises, noting that it occurs during a transitional phase. "Young people are also feeling 'locked out' of opportunities like jobs, and worried about the future, or 'locked in' to choices they've already made which might be the wrong ones," Robinson explained. He added that this period involves self-discovery and navigating complex relationship challenges.
The study suggests that quarter-life crises appear consistently across different cultures and may represent a common part of the human developmental journey. The prevalence varied globally, ranging from 40 percent in Greece to a high of 77 percent in India.