買帥氣的跑車、換發(fā)型和找情婦,以前是中年危機(jī)的典型跡象,至少對于老一輩人而言是如此。但一項(xiàng)最新心理學(xué)研究顯示,在當(dāng)前的經(jīng)濟(jì)環(huán)境下,千禧一代的處境如此艱難,以至于他們認(rèn)為,過于拮據(jù)使得他們甚至無法像前輩們那樣靠“墮落”來度過危機(jī)。
在1,000多名接受調(diào)查的千禧一代中,有81%表示無法承受一次中年危機(jī)。繁榮心理學(xué)中心(Thriving Center of Psychology)對中年危機(jī)的定義是,大幅增重或減重,更多飲酒,接受治療,改變外貌,或者培養(yǎng)一種新的興趣愛好。
研究顯示,許多人在中年危機(jī)經(jīng)歷了焦慮、抑郁、迷茫、悲傷和倦怠。嬰兒潮一代的中年危機(jī)可能是出于害怕變老或者對人生重大變故的恐慌,但年輕人擔(dān)心的問題卻截然不同。
SF Psychotherapy Services的老板史蒂芬·弗洛伊德對《財(cái)富》雜志表示,千禧一代的中年危機(jī)是一場“目的與積極性危機(jī)”。“這一代人一直被鼓勵(lì)要努力工作,要有遠(yuǎn)大志向,但人到中年之后他們便開始思考:我滿意嗎?我在乎嗎?”
為什么千禧一代“無法承受”一次中年危機(jī)
過去的中年危機(jī)的特征通常是奢侈消費(fèi),例如昂貴的汽車、長期度假、跨國或環(huán)球旅居,或者昂貴的整容手術(shù)。但Farmani Coaching的個(gè)人生活教練曼森·法瑪尼對《財(cái)富》雜志表示,千禧一代面臨的經(jīng)濟(jì)挑戰(zhàn)使他們難以承受傳統(tǒng)的中年危機(jī)。
法瑪尼表示,1981年至1996年出生的千禧一代的收入比嬰兒潮一代在相同年齡時(shí)的收入少20%。此外,千禧一代“背負(fù)著學(xué)生貸款債務(wù),就業(yè)市場充滿挑戰(zhàn),住房成本不斷上漲,這些都削弱了他們建立財(cái)務(wù)穩(wěn)定性的能力”。由于高房價(jià)和通貨膨脹,千禧一代推遲了買房和生兒育女等各種人生大事,這也限制了他們在中年危機(jī)時(shí)大肆消費(fèi)的能力。
然而,一些專家認(rèn)為,千禧一代并非無法承受中年危機(jī),只是這個(gè)人生拐點(diǎn)可能與前輩們不同。
注冊理財(cái)規(guī)劃師安德魯·萊瑟姆告訴《財(cái)富》雜志:“雖然中年危機(jī)的經(jīng)典形象可能涉及奢侈消費(fèi),但真正決定這段經(jīng)歷的是潛在的情緒和心理波動(dòng)。無論大肆購買奢侈品,還是沖動(dòng)地改變生活,中年危機(jī)的本質(zhì)在于對意義、身份認(rèn)同和個(gè)人成就感的追求,而不是支票賬戶的余額。”
雖然閃亮的新跑車或奢侈的假期可能是中年危機(jī)的典型例子,但千禧一代在這一時(shí)期可能會進(jìn)行金額較小但可自由支配的消費(fèi)。
萊瑟姆表示:“人們在經(jīng)歷中年危機(jī)時(shí)可能會沖動(dòng)消費(fèi),大量購買衣服,進(jìn)行整容手術(shù),或開始說走就走的旅行探險(xiǎn),所有這些都不一定要有大量的積蓄或財(cái)富。這些行為往往是由于人們渴望重返青春、尋找人生的意義或擺脫停滯不前的感受,而不是出于謹(jǐn)慎的財(cái)務(wù)規(guī)劃。”
事實(shí)上,雖然千禧一代可能不會面臨與父輩們類似的“傳統(tǒng)”的中年危機(jī),但這并不意味著他們不會經(jīng)歷重大的人生變故。
法瑪尼表示:“‘中年危機(jī)’一詞可能需要根據(jù)這一代人的經(jīng)歷和情況重新定義。”
與金錢無關(guān)
雖然大多數(shù)千禧一代表示他們認(rèn)為自己無法承受中年危機(jī),但也有一些人并不擔(dān)心經(jīng)濟(jì)方面的問題。事實(shí)上,Viral Marketing Stars公司CEO、千禧一代企業(yè)主卡佳·瓦爾巴諾娃告訴《財(cái)富》雜志,她在二十幾歲時(shí)努力工作,就攢下了一筆應(yīng)急資金,這讓她隨時(shí)可以休假一兩年。
盡管如此,瓦爾巴諾娃表示她也經(jīng)歷過中年危機(jī)的跡象,包括抑郁、焦慮、迷茫和失去自我等,她把其中的很多原因歸咎于長期上網(wǎng)。
她說道:“最近,網(wǎng)上出現(xiàn)了太多會引發(fā)憤怒的內(nèi)容,這確實(shí)會影響你的心理健康。”此外,現(xiàn)實(shí)生活中的其他因素也導(dǎo)致了中年危機(jī)感。“當(dāng)然,有時(shí)生活就是這樣,可能會遭遇健康問題以及類似失戀這種個(gè)人災(zāi)難。我不得不克服這兩種情況。”
瓦爾巴諾娃預(yù)測,千禧一代將繼續(xù)重塑什么是中年危機(jī)或重大生活變故。她認(rèn)為,更多千禧一代將選擇自主創(chuàng)業(yè),以改善他們的財(cái)務(wù)穩(wěn)定性。
瓦爾巴諾娃表示:“我們這代人最早意識到,如果金錢會讓你失去靈魂和自由,那么它就不值得。我相信千禧一代真正渴望的是靈魂和自由。”(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
翻譯:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
千禧一代的處境如此艱難,以至于他們甚至認(rèn)為難以承受中年危機(jī)。GETTY IMAGES—IGOR SUKA
買帥氣的跑車、換發(fā)型和找情婦,以前是中年危機(jī)的典型跡象,至少對于老一輩人而言是如此。但一項(xiàng)最新心理學(xué)研究顯示,在當(dāng)前的經(jīng)濟(jì)環(huán)境下,千禧一代的處境如此艱難,以至于他們認(rèn)為,過于拮據(jù)使得他們甚至無法像前輩們那樣靠“墮落”來度過危機(jī)。
在1,000多名接受調(diào)查的千禧一代中,有81%表示無法承受一次中年危機(jī)。繁榮心理學(xué)中心(Thriving Center of Psychology)對中年危機(jī)的定義是,大幅增重或減重,更多飲酒,接受治療,改變外貌,或者培養(yǎng)一種新的興趣愛好。
研究顯示,許多人在中年危機(jī)經(jīng)歷了焦慮、抑郁、迷茫、悲傷和倦怠。嬰兒潮一代的中年危機(jī)可能是出于害怕變老或者對人生重大變故的恐慌,但年輕人擔(dān)心的問題卻截然不同。
SF Psychotherapy Services的老板史蒂芬·弗洛伊德對《財(cái)富》雜志表示,千禧一代的中年危機(jī)是一場“目的與積極性危機(jī)”。“這一代人一直被鼓勵(lì)要努力工作,要有遠(yuǎn)大志向,但人到中年之后他們便開始思考:我滿意嗎?我在乎嗎?”
為什么千禧一代“無法承受”一次中年危機(jī)
過去的中年危機(jī)的特征通常是奢侈消費(fèi),例如昂貴的汽車、長期度假、跨國或環(huán)球旅居,或者昂貴的整容手術(shù)。但Farmani Coaching的個(gè)人生活教練曼森·法瑪尼對《財(cái)富》雜志表示,千禧一代面臨的經(jīng)濟(jì)挑戰(zhàn)使他們難以承受傳統(tǒng)的中年危機(jī)。
法瑪尼表示,1981年至1996年出生的千禧一代的收入比嬰兒潮一代在相同年齡時(shí)的收入少20%。此外,千禧一代“背負(fù)著學(xué)生貸款債務(wù),就業(yè)市場充滿挑戰(zhàn),住房成本不斷上漲,這些都削弱了他們建立財(cái)務(wù)穩(wěn)定性的能力”。由于高房價(jià)和通貨膨脹,千禧一代推遲了買房和生兒育女等各種人生大事,這也限制了他們在中年危機(jī)時(shí)大肆消費(fèi)的能力。
然而,一些專家認(rèn)為,千禧一代并非無法承受中年危機(jī),只是這個(gè)人生拐點(diǎn)可能與前輩們不同。
注冊理財(cái)規(guī)劃師安德魯·萊瑟姆告訴《財(cái)富》雜志:“雖然中年危機(jī)的經(jīng)典形象可能涉及奢侈消費(fèi),但真正決定這段經(jīng)歷的是潛在的情緒和心理波動(dòng)。無論大肆購買奢侈品,還是沖動(dòng)地改變生活,中年危機(jī)的本質(zhì)在于對意義、身份認(rèn)同和個(gè)人成就感的追求,而不是支票賬戶的余額。”
雖然閃亮的新跑車或奢侈的假期可能是中年危機(jī)的典型例子,但千禧一代在這一時(shí)期可能會進(jìn)行金額較小但可自由支配的消費(fèi)。
萊瑟姆表示:“人們在經(jīng)歷中年危機(jī)時(shí)可能會沖動(dòng)消費(fèi),大量購買衣服,進(jìn)行整容手術(shù),或開始說走就走的旅行探險(xiǎn),所有這些都不一定要有大量的積蓄或財(cái)富。這些行為往往是由于人們渴望重返青春、尋找人生的意義或擺脫停滯不前的感受,而不是出于謹(jǐn)慎的財(cái)務(wù)規(guī)劃。”
事實(shí)上,雖然千禧一代可能不會面臨與父輩們類似的“傳統(tǒng)”的中年危機(jī),但這并不意味著他們不會經(jīng)歷重大的人生變故。
法瑪尼表示:“‘中年危機(jī)’一詞可能需要根據(jù)這一代人的經(jīng)歷和情況重新定義。”
與金錢無關(guān)
雖然大多數(shù)千禧一代表示他們認(rèn)為自己無法承受中年危機(jī),但也有一些人并不擔(dān)心經(jīng)濟(jì)方面的問題。事實(shí)上,Viral Marketing Stars公司CEO、千禧一代企業(yè)主卡佳·瓦爾巴諾娃告訴《財(cái)富》雜志,她在二十幾歲時(shí)努力工作,就攢下了一筆應(yīng)急資金,這讓她隨時(shí)可以休假一兩年。
盡管如此,瓦爾巴諾娃表示她也經(jīng)歷過中年危機(jī)的跡象,包括抑郁、焦慮、迷茫和失去自我等,她把其中的很多原因歸咎于長期上網(wǎng)。
她說道:“最近,網(wǎng)上出現(xiàn)了太多會引發(fā)憤怒的內(nèi)容,這確實(shí)會影響你的心理健康。”此外,現(xiàn)實(shí)生活中的其他因素也導(dǎo)致了中年危機(jī)感。“當(dāng)然,有時(shí)生活就是這樣,可能會遭遇健康問題以及類似失戀這種個(gè)人災(zāi)難。我不得不克服這兩種情況。”
瓦爾巴諾娃預(yù)測,千禧一代將繼續(xù)重塑什么是中年危機(jī)或重大生活變故。她認(rèn)為,更多千禧一代將選擇自主創(chuàng)業(yè),以改善他們的財(cái)務(wù)穩(wěn)定性。
瓦爾巴諾娃表示:“我們這代人最早意識到,如果金錢會讓你失去靈魂和自由,那么它就不值得。我相信千禧一代真正渴望的是靈魂和自由。”(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
翻譯:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
Millennials have it so bad they think they can't even afford a midlife crisis.
Buying sexy sports cars, changing hairstyles, and finding a mistress used to be the classic signs of a midlife crisis—at least for older generations. But millennials have it so bad in today’s economy that they think they’re too poor to allow themselves the breakdown their predecessors were mocked for, a new psychology study shows.
Of more than 1,000 millennials who were surveyed, 81% of them reported they can’t afford to have a midlife crisis, which Thriving Center of Psychology defines as either dramatically gaining or losing weight, consuming more alcohol, attending therapy, changing appearances, or taking on a new hobby.
Many people who undergo a midlife crisis also experience anxiety, depression, loss of purpose, sadness, and burnout, according to the study. But while the midlife crises of the baby boomer generation may have been defined by a fear of getting older or panic about major life changes, younger generations experience a different set of worries.
The midlife crisis for millennials is rather a “crisis of purpose and engagement,” Steven Floyd, owner of SF Psychotherapy Services, tells Fortune. “A generation that was encouraged to work hard and shoot for the stars—they got there and wondered: am I satisfied? Do I even care?”
Why millennials ‘can’t afford’ a midlife crisis
Midlife crises of the past were usually defined by lavish spending—whether on expensive cars, extended vacations, cross-country or cross-world moves, or costly cosmetic surgery. But millennials face a challenging economy that makes it difficult for them to afford a traditional midlife crisis, Mason Farmani, a personal life coach at Farmani Coaching, tells Fortune.
Millennials, who were born between 1981 and 1996, earn 20% less than baby boomers did at their age, Farmani says. Plus, they’re “burdened with student loan debt, a challenging job market, and rising housing costs, which diminish their ability to establish financial stability.” Millennials are delaying all kinds of milestones, including buying homes and having kids, thanks to high housing costs and inflation, which also limits their ability to spend carelessly on a midlife crisis.
However, some experts argue that it’s not that millennials can’t afford a midlife crisis—it’s just that this inflection point in life may just look different from past generations.
“While the classic image of a midlife crisis may involve extravagant spending, it’s the underlying emotional and psychological turmoil that truly defines the experience,” Andrew Latham, a certified financial planner, tells Fortune. “Whether it’s splurging on luxury items or making impulsive life changes, the essence of a midlife crisis lies in the quest for meaning, identity, and personal fulfillment—not on the balance of your checking account.”
While a shiny new sports car or extravagant vacation might be classic examples associated with a midlife crisis, millennials may make smaller, but discretionary purchases during that time period.
“Someone experiencing a midlife crisis might impulsively splurge on a wardrobe overhaul, undergo cosmetic procedures, or embark on spontaneous travel adventures—all without necessarily having significant savings or wealth,” Latham says. “These behaviors are often driven by a desire to recapture youth, find meaning, or escape feelings of stagnation—rather than by careful financial planning.”
Indeed, while millennials may not face a “traditional” midlife crisis—one that looks similar to their parents—it doesn’t mean they’re not going through major life changes.
“The term ‘midlife crisis’ may need to be redefined in the context of this generation’s experiences and circumstances,” Farmani says.
It’s not all about the money, though
While a majority of millennials reported they don’t think they’re able to afford a midlife crisis, others aren’t as concerned about the financial aspect of it. Indeed, millennial business owner Katya Varbanova, CEO of Viral Marketing Stars, tells Fortune that she worked hard in her twenties and saved up an emergency fund that would allow her to take a year or two off whenever she wants to.
Still, Varbanova says she’s also experienced the signs of a midlife crisis, including depression, anxiety, loss of purpose, and losing her identity—a lot of which she blames on being chronically online.
“Lately, there has been so much rage-baiting content, it can really impact your mental health,” she says. Plus, other real-life factors have contributed to the feelings of a midlife crisis. “Of course, sometimes life just happens, whether it’s a health issue, a breakup, a personal disaster. I’ve had to overcome both of those.”
Varbanova predicts that millennials will continue to reshape what a midlife crisis—or major life changes—look like. She thinks more millennials will pursue self-employment and entrepreneurship in order to improve their financial stability.
“We’re the first generation that realized that money isn’t worth it if it costs you your soul and freedom,” Varbanova says. “I believe millennials truly crave both.”