The Relationship between Quarter-Life Crisis and Psychological Well-Being among Undergraduates in Nigeria: Gender as a Moderator and Perceived Stress as a Mediator

The transition to adulthood is often marked by identity struggles, commonly conceptualised as a quarter-life crisis (QLC), leading to poorer psychological well-being. This study examined the mediating role of perceived stress in the relationship between QLC and psychological well-being, and whether this indirect effect is moderated by gender. A cross-sectional survey of 301 Nigerian university students (158 males, 141 females) completed the self-report Developmental Crisis Questionnaire, Psychological well-being Scale and Perceived Stress Scale. Data was analysed using Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Models 4 and 7). Results showed that QLC negatively predicted Psychological wellbeing (β = –0.34, p < 0.01) and positively predicted perceived stress (β = 0.21, p < 0.01). While there was no significant direct effect of QLC on PWB, there was a significant indirect effect through perceived stress (β = −0.07, 95% CI [−0.308, −0.051]), supporting evidence for mediation. Gender moderated the QLC–stress path (β = 0.10, p = 0.03). QLC predicted higher stress in females (β = 0.16, p < 0.001) but not in males (β = 0.06, p = 0.11). These findings highlight the gendered dynamics of QLC and underscore the importance of stress management, particularly among female students, in promoting psychological well-being during early adulthood.