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A longitudinal mixed-methods case study of quarter-life crisis during the post-university transition: Locked-out and locked-in forms in combination

A longitudinal mixed-methods case study of quarter-life crisis during the post-university transition: Locked-out and locked-in forms in combination

Robinson, Oliver C. ORCID: 0000-0002-6758-2223 (2018) A longitudinal mixed-methods case study of quarter-life crisis during the post-university transition: Locked-out and locked-in forms in combination. Emerging Adulthood, 7 (3). pp. 167-179. ISSN 2167-6968 (Print), 2167-6984 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696818764144)

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Abstract

Research on crisis episodes during the first decade of adult life suggests two types of such ‘quarter-life’ crisis exist; locked-in and locked-out. Both relate conceptually to the transition out of emerging adulthood. A female case study was studied over a four-year period, starting when she left university. Wellbeing and depression data were gathered five times, two interviews were conducted, as well as a structured email exchange. Results showed two episodes of crisis within the study period. The first was the locked-out type, which occurred when the participant experienced multiple failures to find work, leading to self-esteem decline and anxiety. The second crisis was the locked-in type, which occurred when she felt obliged to stay in a job despite a bullying boss. The case study provides a rich exemplification of quarter-life crisis theory, and provides insights for further consideration in multi-participant studies on the challenges of leaving tertiary education.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Quarter-life crisis; Post-university transition; Case study; Mixed-methods; Wellbeing; Depression
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group: Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences
Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified: 21 Oct 2020 08:30
URI: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/19477

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