The Quarter-Life Crisis

Why Youth is Wasted on the Young

By J. Jeff Toler for Shenandoah Christian Alliance  j.toler@sca4christ.org

• Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. —Phil. 4:6

Studies are now showing what their elders have already begun to suspect: young people don’t know how to enjoy life; whether it’s a meal, a conversation, or even a good book.

Increasingly, younger people are expressing a loss of meaning or direction in their lives. This development has become a major contributor to rising levels of anxiety and depression among the younger Millennials and GenXers. It’s being called the quarter-life crisis.

Psychologists are debating just how age influences happiness by studying the midlife crisis and the possibility that our outlook becomes more positive as we grow older. Recent research, including the 2024 World Happiness Report, [https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2024/] analyzed data from nearly 150 countries to track how happiness levels shift over time and across regions.

Historically, happiness often follows a U-shaped curve: it tends to dip in early adulthood and middle age before rising again in later years. For example, studies show that older adults, despite facing more health challenges, frequently report greater contentment and fewer negative emotions than their younger counterparts.

But in The West, Recent Studies Reveal a New Phenomenon 

In North America and Australia/New Zealand, the traditional pattern of happiness across age groups has reversed. Today, young people aged 15 to 24 are actually not as happy as adults aged 60 and older. For example, while the US ranks 23rd overall in global happiness, its ranking drops dramatically to 62nd when only measuring the happiness of its young people. In contrast, the US. is the 10th happiest country for those 60 and above.

Globally, it remains common for young people to report higher levels of happiness than older adults. But, over the past 15 years, happiness among young people in North America has “fallen sharply,” according to the World Happiness Report, even as youth happiness has improved in other regions.

This generational divide is particularly striking in the West, raising questions about the unique challenges facing our young people today.

Social pressures still challenge young adults to determine their career and life paths with few ways to figure them out. This pressure is compounded by the fact that traditional milestones of adulthood, such as securing stable employment, buying a home, getting married, or starting a family have increasingly become difficult in the current economic and social climate in the West. 

Many young people feel overwhelmed by the need to make significant life decisions rapidly, even as the pathways to these conventional goals become less accessible. 

What are the Signs of a Quarter-Life Crisis?

This is a period of uncertainty and self-reflection that typically occurs during a person’s mid-20s to early 30s. It involves questioning one’s life choices, career path, relationships, and overall direction. This phase can be marked by feelings of anxiety, self-doubt, and a desire for change. [https://www.newportinstitute.com/resources/empowering-young-adults/quarter-life-crisis/] 

Common Signs of Stress and Dissatisfaction

The young can feel trapped and stuck in a job, a relationship, or lifestyle that doesn’t align with them personally. This can lead to stress and dissatisfaction.

A strong desire for change, like switching careers or relocating, may indicate a need for personal growth and fulfillment. [https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-do-when-you-feel-like-running-away-5207364]

Experiencing instability in personal relationships appear in friendships and marriages, and feelings of uncertainty and emotional distress emerge.

Struggling to make choices about the future can lead to procrastination or impulsive decisions, exacerbating feelings of being “stuck.” Decision-making skills are crucial for meeting this challenge. Those can take a lifetime to develop, but begin early in life.

Comparisons with peers, especially when fueled by social media, can result in feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. 

Factors that contribute to a quarter-life crisis

Life transitions—graduating from college, starting a new job, or moving out of the family home can prompt self-reflection and uncertainty.

Social pressures—expectations to achieve certain milestones, like marriage or homeownership, can create stress. 

Financial instability—managing student loans, living expenses, and job insecurity can lead to anxiety. 

Identity exploration is the process of understanding our values, beliefs, and goals, and can be challenging during this period. 

The Coping Strategies From a Purely Secular Perspective

• Navigating a quarter-life crisis involves self-awareness and proactive steps:
• Start with self-reflection by identifying personal values and goals to guide decision-making.
• Set realistic expectations with the understanding that it’s normal to not have everything figured out. 
• It helps to seek support by talking with friends, family, or mental health professionals for guidance and reassurance.
• Focus on personal growth rather than measuring success against others, and limit making comparisons. 
• Not everyone can easily embrace change. But young people should view this period as an opportunity for growth and exploration. 

All of this research and advice can be found on the internet. (Just where do you think I found it?) But there is something missing that would make a tremendous, life altering difference that is rarely, if ever mentioned in these observations: that is the source of wisdom and understanding gained from a life built on faith in God through Jesus Christ.

We already know history is essentially no longer taught in school. Specifically, the study of “Western Civ” hasn’t been a part of the core curriculum in colleges and universities in more than 40 years. And yet, Western Civilization owes most of its foundational values on Christendom. 

I understand by making this declaration I will only invite outrage from those responsible for teaching and training our students; in the public and private schools, and certainly our institutions of higher learning.

Instead they are teaching syncretism. Syncretism is the amalgamation of differing and varying beliefs. Even objectively, we know this will usually manifest in confusion, and contradicting perspectives. I often say that if you believe everything, you will believe anything. Often as not, this manifests in cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that might lead to mental health challenges. [https://greaterbostonbehavioralhealth.com/rehab-blog/understanding-cognitive-dissonance/]

Manifesting the Truth Instead

This is a paradox: If we pursue joy—the true joy found in The Bible and supported in the great classics, we will obtain it. If we only pursue happiness, especially material happiness, it will prove elusive.

Scripture encourages believers to “consider it all joy” when facing various trials, teaching that even in difficult circumstances, Christians can find happiness because the testing of our faith leads to perseverance. As we endure challenges with God’s help, our faith grows stronger and matures, ultimately making us more complete and resilient. This perspective reframes hardships as opportunities for spiritual development, reminding us that by God’s grace, we can experience genuine happiness regardless of our circumstances. [https://www.rethinknow.org/meaning-of-james-1-2-4-count-it-all-joy/]

Joy is a deep, lasting contentment rooted in faith, while happiness is sometimes viewed as a feeling tied to external situations. Scripture does not separate joy from happiness, and both are presented as positive, emotional responses that can coexist in the Christian life. True joy and happiness both stem from trusting God, and the Bible encourages believers to embrace them fully, even in the midst of trials.

Can every young Christian necessarily avoid the quarter-life crisis? Probably not. But the likelihood is much greater such a crisis will be short-lived and more easily resolved.

• Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. —James 1:2-4

Photo by Jack Lucas Smith on Unsplash