Cross-Cultural Comparative Study on Existential Psychological Crisis (Hollow Disease) among Adolescents

Adolescence is a critical stage for individual development and the formation of values. Under the combined impact of globalization and technological revolution, psychological issues among adolescents, both domestically and internationally, have shown a trend of increasing complexity. Previous scholars have predominantly explored the formation of adolescents' psychological problems from external factors, but there has been a lack of discussion on internal factors—existential crises (emptiness syndrome). Remarkably, research in the cross-cultural domain remains underexplored. Therefore, this paper aims to conduct an in-depth investigation into the existential psychological crises of adolescents from a cross-cultural comparative perspective. Specifically, this paper first reviews existing research on existential crises, including the meaning of emptiness syndrome among Chinese students, the psychological and physical impacts of existential crises, their influence on learning and society, and the causes identified by scholars for the emergence of existential psychological crises. It then explores the commonalities in existential psychological crises faced by Chinese and Western adolescents. Finally, it examines the essential differences in these crises from the perspectives of collectivism and individualism. The study finds that both Chinese and Western adolescents face profound contemplation of life goals and self-worth, as well as identity crises. However, the fundamental differences in these crises stem from the distinction between collectivism and individualism. Therefore, this paper argues that a cross-cultural perspective is conducive to a deeper understanding of the nature of existential crises. It offers suggestions for improving the mental health of adolescents in both China and the West and contributes to the global psychological well-being of young people.