The Relationship Between Developmental Crisis and Meaning in Life in Emerging Adulthood: An Analysis of Data from Eight Countries
Developmental crisis episodes are common during emerging adulthood. Evidence from existing research suggests that existential concerns about life’s meaning are prominent during crisis episodes in emerging adulthood, but little quantitative research exists on this topic. The current cross-cultural study investigated the relationships between components of developmental crisis (measured using the 3-factor Developmental Crisis Questionnaire), and meaning in life (measured using the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, which has two factors: search for and presence of meaning in life). The sample comprised 1967 emerging adults across eight countries (Brazil, Czechia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey and the United Kingdom). Two components of developmental crisis – being in transition/turning point and feeling disconnected/distressed – were positively associated with a search for meaning in life. Feeling disconnected/distress and lacking clarity/control were negatively associated with a presence of meaning in life. The findings emphasize the need for organizations and services that focus on supporting young adults in crisis, and that these should provide help with the often-hidden existential sense that life may be lacking meaning, and the corresponding endeavour to search for meaning.
Authors
- Georgios Vleioras (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6076-5572)
- P H ROMEN SHARMA
- Nikolay Petrov
- Luciana Dutra-Thomé (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9629-467X)
- Katarína Millová (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3429-4652)
- Kübra Berber (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0758-1736)
- Afinnisa Rasyida (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5444-8358)
- Figen Çok (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2406-1345)
- Akancha Srivastava (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2024-6326)
- Zehra Yeler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8192-6504)
- Nindya Putri Aprodita
- Saba Sajjad
- Irini Dermitzaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8363-7709)
- Shefali Mishra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9973-5474)
- Anastasia Spyrou
- Emmanouela Mante (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9917-6812)
- Ume Laila
- Oliver C. Robinson
- Maria Nugraheni Mardi Rahayu
- H. Kübra Özdoğan
Institutions
- Universidade Federal da Bahia (BR)
- University of Thessaly (GR)
- Ankara University (TR)
- Satya Wacana Christian University (ID)
- University of Surabaya (ID)
- University of Ostrava (CZ)
- Başkent University (TR)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Regent's University London (GB)
- University of Bunda Mulia (ID)
- TED University (TR)
- O. P. Jindal Global University (IN)
- GIFT University (PK)
- Christ University (IN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Adult Development
- Published
- 2026-04-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-026-09554-0
- Primary Topic
- Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- University of Greenwich
- Institute for Lifecourse Development, University of Greenwich