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-life crisis”.

quarter-life crisis: 青年危机
self-doubt：自我怀疑

Faced with too much choice, they are experiencing the traditional symptoms of a mid-life crisis earlier, research suggests.

symptoms： 症状；症候
mid-life crisis：中年危机

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.

multitude：群众；多数
depression：诅丧
lock into：受困于

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.”

phenomenon：现象
footloose：行动无拘无束的；自由自在的

“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.

fluidity:流动性

“It is about people feeling a frenetic need to get a job, make money and be successful quickly,” said the researcher.

frenetic：发狂似的；狂乱的

“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.”

ploddy: 枯燥的，沉重的

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 annual conference heard.

unsettling：令人不安（或紧张、担忧）的

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.

odds：（事物发生的）可能性，概率，几率，机会

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.”

intrinsically：本质地，内在地

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