The “quarter-life” crisis: two thirds of 25-33 year olds affected
The twenties take on the air of El Dorado. The teenage chrysalis explodes to give way to independence. Our grandparents regret this wildly overflowing period and the 15-year-olds quiver with impatience in front of this golden figure. This pivotal age, often considered the Holy Grail of freedom, also rhymes with disappointment. Dreams fade, projects fly away and anxiety sets in without warning.
This caricatural image of the idyllic decade turns into a vulgar draft diagram. Disappointments, injunctions, pressures… the young adults then sink silently into a deep malaise. Specialists speak of a “quarter-life” crisis. This foggy phase would interfere in the daily life of two thirds of 25-33 year olds. With the current health crisis as a backdrop, this alarming phenomenon is becoming widespread.
The pandemic, a brake on all projects
At the heart of the television sets, the news media broadcast gloomy data in a loop. For more than a year, the same catastrophic scenario has been repeated. Each new wave sounds like a tsunami and all generations face multiple dead ends. On the one hand, seniors are imprisoned in their retirement homes. On the other hand, young people are out of breath. This endless health crisis has affected their mental health. Between the lack of social ties, the absence of professional opportunities and the seasonal jobs that slip away, young adults are completely bewildered. Drowned in a flood of uncertainties, they break free from the chains of hope.
Deprived of outings and entertainment, this segment of the population drifts from disappointment to frustration. Hearts are no longer celebrating. According to an Ipsos survey, just over 1 in 5 young people under the age of 25 report symptoms of moderately severe or severe depressive disorders (21%). The 22-24 age group, which often finds itself more isolated, outside the family cocoon, is even more affected than the others (24%, almost 1 in 4 individuals). Dark thoughts are turning upside down in these vulnerable minds and fatigue is crystallizing day by day.
Leaving adolescence to plunge into this tormented world can be brutal. Edith Piaf sang "I see life in pink", but Generation Z, she is brooding. Apology of success, ruthless school universe, precariousness... a new life with a bitter taste is emerging. Faced with all these negative waves, the brain triggers the alert and the existential crisis begins.
Anyone know how to extend a USB cable beyond 5 meters without a powered hub?
— Reach Challenges Mon Oct 10 22:30:31 +0000 2011
A bitter destiny?
The “twenties crisis” was highlighted by American writers Alexandra Robbins and Abby Wilner in the book “Quarterlife Crisis: The Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twenties”. The two women sifted through all the facets of this confused period. According to them, people between the ages of 21 and 29 would be hit hardest. A disturbing transitional phase sprinkled with a certain social pressure… this poisonous mixture is strongly repressed.
At the antipodes of the midlife crisis which emerges in a radical way, the quarter-life crisis germinates in silence. However, in the long term, it proves to be much more devastating. According to the work of psychologist Oliver Robinson, professor at the University of Greenwich, 70% of Britons between the ages of 25 and 33 have experienced this crisis. In the United States, nearly half of twenty-somethings say they have crossed it, reveals a survey by The Harris Poll. Torn between dissatisfaction, self-quest, self-questioning and guilt… young adults go through the ranks backwards.
A hectic lifestyle and increased pressure
In the depths of our modern society, there are many obstacles before you can reach the peak of comfort. Five or six decades ago, access to the labor market was easier, real estate was cheaper and benevolence reigned supreme. The elders repeat it over and over again: “It was better before”. A very common song that reminds us of the delights of the hippie years. But the time for recklessness is almost over. Indeed, the proportion of 25-33 year olds experiencing this crisis is now twice as high as in their parents' generation. Young people keep a salty legacy. Growing globalization, global warming, democratization of the internet, emergence of Artificial Intelligence… they evolve in a hostile and frightening environment.
At the same time, social networks fuel a constant popularity contest. On the canvas, sumptuous landscapes rub shoulders with photoshopped bodies, so many biased facets that accentuate this impression of failure. As you approach your thirties, other weights are added to the balance. Having children at all costs, enjoying a good financial position, being a homeowner… these injunctions remain distressing. No less than 43% of 25-33 year olds say they are not sure what to do with their life or career and 30% of them believe that they have not traveled enough in their lifetime.
Benefits emerge
However, specialists confirm that the quarter-life crisis also has beneficial aspects. It leads to a profound work of introspection. What do I want? What do I really like? How do I realize the projects that are close to my heart? These dizzying questions awaken buried desires.
It is during the twenties that we take the most risks. We embark on unexpected adventures and sometimes we come up against failure. A famous saying goes: “Man learns from his mistakes”. Do not neglect your mind and be indulgent with yourself. Do not bridle your true face and make your dearest wishes vibrate.
