Navigating the Quarter-Life Crisis: Examining the Role of Spiritual Well-Being, Identity Exploration, and Self-Efficacy among Young Adults

Abstract

This study aims to explore the relationship between identity exploration, self-efficacy, and spiritual well-being among male and female young adults going through quarter-life crisis. A purposive sample of 100 participants (50 males, 50 females), aged 18–29 years, completed standardized measures assessing the three constructs. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s product-moment correlation and independent samples t-tests. The results showed that all three relational hypotheses were supported by the significant positive correlations between identity exploration and spiritual well-being (r = 0.324, p < 0.01), self-efficacy and spiritual well-being (r = 0.401, p < 0.01), and identity exploration and self-efficacy (r = 0.491, p < 0.01). However, there were no discernible gender differences in self-efficacy (t = 0.12, p > 0.05), spiritual well-being (t = -0.32, p > 0.05), or identity exploration (t = 0.05, p > 0.05). These findings highlight how self-awareness, personal competence, and existential grounding—regardless of gender—all work together to support young adults in overcoming the psychological difficulties of the QLC.