青年危機 Quarter-Life Crisis
They may still be in the prime of their lives - but for many young adults, their 20s and 30s are now a time of panic and self-doubt as they suffer a 'quarter-life crisis'.
很多20和30多歲的年輕人也許還處于人生的黃金時期,但因為遭遇“青年危機”,他們正在恐慌和自我懷疑中掙扎。
Faced with too much choice, they are experiencing the traditional symptoms of a mid-life crisis earlier, research suggests.
研究指出,由于面臨太多選擇,他們正提早經歷中年危機的一些傳統癥狀。
Today's young adults often struggle with the multitude of options available, driving them to feel anxiety, depression and a sense of being trapped or 'locked into' a marriage or a job that doesn't feel right.
現在的年輕人時常要在眾多可能性中作出艱難的選擇,這讓他們感到焦慮和抑郁。他們感覺自己陷入或“被鎖進了”錯誤的婚姻或工作。
And the phenomenon appears to be more common than in the past, according to Greenwich University researcher Oliver Robinson.
格林威治大學的研究人員奧利佛?羅賓森說,和過去相比較,現在“青年危機”的現象更普遍了。
Dr Robinson, who interviewed 50 people aged between 25 and 35 about their difficulties coping, said: 'You are now more footloose to make changes in early adulthood than I think you once were.'
在調查了50位年齡在25歲到35歲之間的人應對危機的情況后,羅賓森博士說:“如今在剛步入成年期時作出改變比以前要自由。”
'There is greater fluidity in the job world, greater fluidity in marriage or alternatives to marriage. This fluidity has meant major life changes are more acceptable.
他說:“職場和婚姻的流動性更大,替代婚姻的生活方式也更多。這一流動性意味著人們比以往更容易接受重大的人生改變。
'In the past if a major life change were to occur it would happen in mid-life.'
“在過去,重大的人生改變一般在中年時期發生。”
Pressure to meet parents' demands can add to the sense of crisis among today's young adults, he said.
他說,為了實現父母期望而產生的壓力增加了現在年輕人的危機感。
'It is about people feeling a frenetic need to get a job, make money and be successful quickly,' said the researcher.
研究人員說:“這種危機感體現在急迫地要找到工作、賺錢以及迅速成功。”
'It links to the demanding nature of people in their 20s and 30s who want it all. They are not happy with a mediocre, ploddy, conventional life.'
“二三十歲的年輕人的危機感和他們想要得到一切的苛求心態有關。他們無法滿足于平庸、枯燥的平凡生活。”
And those who have suffered – or are in the midst of – a 'quarter-life crisis' will be glad to know that it cuts their odds of suffering a 'proper' mid-life crisis later on.
有一點會讓那些曾經經受過或正在經受“青年危機”的人感到安慰,那就是“青年危機”會降低他們以后遭受真正的中年危機的可能性。
考考你
1. 醫生給他的刀口清洗和消毒。
2. 我感到很歡快,似乎要跳起舞來。
3. 按摩腿部可緩解抽筋。
4. 他開始了見習廚師的工作。
One Day《真愛挑日子》精講之二 參考答案
1. The child whined that he was hungry.
2. The news took the city by storm.
3. This furniture is about ready for the dump.
4. He tasted the soup with a wry expression on his face.
(中國日報網英語點津:陳丹妮)