Many people who belong to the post-1980s generation refuse to admit they are already "middle-aged," even if some of them are technically having a midlife crisis. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Tang Jun, a 34-year-old programmer in Beijing, sits in his office at night way past working hours. He doesn't feel like getting any work done, and he doesn't feel like going home. He feels tired and that there is nothing exciting in his life.

"I have been feeling like my physical condition has worsened dramatically ever since I turned 30 years old," Tang said. He gets tired easily, and often gets sick with colds or coughs. "I also have been feeling like I'm under a lot of stress."

"It feels like I am suffering from a midlife crisis already," Tang said.

Hai Ling, a psychologist from Jinxin Psychological Counseling Center in Beijing, said that many people in the post-1980s generation like Tang are now having a midlife crisis, earlier than the usual age range, which is between 45 and 55 years old. The two major symptoms are worsening physical health and a lack of energy to pursue new and exciting paths in life.

Hai pointed out that one of the signs of a midlife crisis is troubled relationships.

Tang said that he felt like he and his wife have nothing to talk about anymore after five years of marriage and there is no passion between them. "There are problems between us. We just choose to ignore it," she said. 

The China Women News reported this September, that the divorce rate among people in the post-1980s generation is 20 to 30 percent, much higher than those born in the 1950s or 1960s. 

Another sign of an early midlife crisis is early menopause, Hai said. Yangtze Evening News reported this month that 30 percent of working women are experiencing early menopause in their late 20s and 30s. And because menopause, which usually happens between 45 and 55 years old for women, and 40 and 55 for men, shares a similar time span with the midlife crisis, the two are often connected, said Hai.

Hai said people are experiencing a midlife crisis at an earlier age mainly because of the increasing social pressure. The post-1980s generation in China is the first to grow up in the environment of a market-oriented economy, Hai said.

"They don't have the welfare of allotted apartments from their employer," he said. "The cost of living is rising rapidly. The prices for apartments, education and medical treatment are all pretty high."

Another reason is the increasing responsibilities people born in the 1980s have to shoulder. China implemented the one-child policy at the end of 1970s, so the post-1980s generation is the first generation that has an even heavier responsibility of taking care of their parents when they grow old.

However, this problem is not uniquely Chinese. A Daily Mail report from September 2014 said that the 20 percent of the 2,000 British people surveyed reported having a midlife crisis in their middle 30s - earlier than usual - because of increasing social pressure.

Ironically, despite experiencing the symptoms of a midlife crisis, many people from the post-1980s generation don't want to admit they have already entered midlife, said Chen Zhilin, a psychiatrist based in Chongqing.

"According to the definition in psychology, people enter adulthood at the age of 28, but many people in the post-1980s generation refuse to admit that they are 'middle-aged,'" said Chen. "It shows that they are trying to escape their adulthood and the responsibilities that come with it."

Lu Xiao, a 33-year-old employee from an investment bank in Beijing does not admit he is "middle-aged," let alone having a midlife crisis.

"I am still in my youth. I still study something new everyday to keep up with trends," said Lu, who travels frequently and goes to sporting events and concerts all the time. "I always want to explore new things like a child does. Anyone with this state of mind can not be called 'middle-aged,'" Lu said.

Chen said people who are having an early midlife crisis could try to develop new interests and make new friends.

"People's abilities and knowledge are at their prime in midlife. They need to motivate themselves to accomplish more," he said.
Newspaper headline: Growing pains