They may still be in the prime of their lives - but for many young adults, their 20s and 30s are now a time of panic and self-doubt as they suffer a 'quarter-lifecrisis'.
Faced with too much choice, they are experiencing the traditional symptoms of a mid-life crisis earlier, research suggests.
Today's young adults often struggle with the multitude of options available, driving them to feel anxiety, depression and a sense of being trapped or 'locked into' a marriage or a job that doesn't feel right.
And the phenomenon appears to be more common than in the past, according to Greenwich University researcher Oliver Robinson.
Dr Robinson, who interviewed 50 people aged between 25 and 35 about their difficulties coping, said: 'You are now more footloose to make changes in early adulthood than I think you once were.'
'There is greater fluidity in the job world, greater fluidity in marriage or alternatives to marriage. This fluidity has meant major life changes are more acceptable.
'In the past if a major life change were to occur it would happen in mid-life.'
Pressure to meet parents' demands can add to the sense of crisis among today's young adults, he said.
'It is about people feeling a frenetic need to get a job, make money and be successful quickly,' said the researcher.
'It links to the demanding nature of people in their 20s and 30s who want it all. They are not happy with a mediocre, ploddy, conventional life.'
While a major re-evaluation of life choices can be unsettling, it seems to be worth it in the end, the British Psychological Society's annualconference heard.
Dr Robinson said 'setting the clock back on adulthood and starting again' brings with it a sense of freedom.
And those who have suffered - or are in the midst of - a 'quarter-life crisis' will be glad to know that it cuts their odds of suffering a 'proper' mid-life crisis later on.
Dr Robinson said: 'You'd be much less likely to [suffer another crisis] because the lifestyle that [you have] post crisis is intrinsically healthier than what you had before.'
(Read by Nelly Min. Nelly Min is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)
(Agencies)
很多20和30多岁的年轻人也许还处于人生的黄金时期，但因为遭遇"青年危机"，他们正在恐慌和自我怀疑中挣扎。 研究指出，由于面临太多选择，他们正提早经历中年危机的一些传统症状。 现在的年轻人时常要在众多可能性中作出艰难的选择，这让他们感到焦虑和抑郁。他们感觉自己陷入或"被锁进了"错误的婚姻或工作。 格林威治大学的研究人员奥利佛•罗宾森说，和过去相比较，现在"青年危机"的现象更普遍了。 在调查了50位年龄在25岁到35岁之间的人应对危机的情况后，罗宾森博士说："如今在刚步入成年期时作出改变比以前要自由。" 他说："职场和婚姻的流动性更大，替代婚姻的生活方式也更多。这一流动性意味着人们比以往更容易接受重大的人生改变。 "在过去，重大的人生改变一般在中年时期发生。" 他说，为了实现父母期望而产生的压力增加了现在年轻人的危机感。 研究人员说："这种危机感体现在急迫地要找到工作、赚钱以及迅速成功。" "二三十岁的年轻人的危机感和他们想要得到一切的苛求心态有关。他们无法满足于平庸、枯燥的平凡生活。" 不过，这份在英国心理学会年会上提交的研究报告称，尽管重新衡量人生选择的过程会使人焦虑，但最后看来，似乎还是值得的。 罗宾森博士说，"把成年的时钟指针往回拨并重新开始"将带来自由的感觉。 有一点会让那些曾经经受过或正在经受"青年危机"的人感到安慰，那就是"青年危机"会降低他们以后遭受真正的中年危机的可能性。 罗宾森博士说："你遭受另一场危机的可能性会大大降低，因为青年危机后的生活方式从本质上来讲比你先前的生活方式要健康。"
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