Cyberpsychological Analysis: The Effect of Emotional Regulation via Online Communities on the Quarter-Life Crisis Among Young People in Medan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66784/marlajarjournal.v1i2.54Keywords:
Cyberpsychological, Emotional Regulation, Online Communities, Quarter-Life Crisis, MedanAbstract
Early adulthood is a transitional period characterised by academic, career and work demands, interpersonal relationships, and uncertainty about the future, all of which can trigger a quarter-life crisis. This study aims to analyse the influence of emotional regulation on the quarter-life crisis and to identify the most dominant aspects of emotional regulation amongst young adults in the city of Medan. The study employed a quantitative approach using a simple linear regression design. The sample comprised 348 individuals aged 18–25 years, selected via purposive sampling. Data were collected using a 27-item emotional regulation scale and an 18-item quarter-life crisis scale. Both instruments demonstrated good reliability, with Cronbach’s Alpha values of 0.959 and 0.879, respectively. Analyses were conducted using SPSS 20.0 via descriptive statistics, assumption tests, and simple linear regression. The results of the study indicate that emotional regulation has a significant effect on the quarter-life crisis (R = 0.552; R² = 0.304; F = 151.343; p < 0.001), accounting for 30.4 per cent of the variance. The aspect of ‘limited access to emotion regulation strategies’ was the most dominant (26.3 per cent), followed by ‘non-acceptance of emotional responses’ (20.7 per cent) and ‘lack of emotional clarity’ (18.7 per cent). These findings fill a research gap regarding the inconsistencies in the results of previous studies in the context of early adulthood in the city of Medan. It was concluded that the greater the difficulty in regulating emotions, the higher the likelihood of experiencing a quarter-life crisis. These results underscore the importance of strengthening skills in emotional regulation, adaptive coping, career planning and decision-making for young adults
Downloads
References
Afandi, M., Afandi, N. H., Afandi, S. A., & Erdayani, R. (2023). Measuring the difficulties of early adulthood: The development of the Quarter Life Crisis Scale. Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan Dan Konseling, 8(3), 167–176.
Al-Najdi, S., Mansoor, A., Al Hayk, O., Al-Hashimi, N., Ali, K., & Daud, A. (2025). Silent struggles: a qualitative study exploring mental health challenges of undergraduate healthcare students. BMC Medical Education, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06740-8
Arimindani, I. D. (2026). Pengaruh Self-Compassion Dan Emotion Regulation Terhadap Quarter Life Crisis Pada Mahasiswa Tingkat Akhir. Fokus: Kajian Bimbingan Dan Konseling Dalam Pendidikan, 9(4), 991–1005.
Azza, D. F., Mahkota, M. K. C., Permana, G. B., Sugiarti, L. R., & Suhariadi, F. (2025). Exploring the Quarter Life Crisis: Management Dimensions and Factors Influencing Early Adulthood Transitions Across Cultures and Educational Backgrounds. Journal of Educational Management Research, 4(2), 454–462.
Bele, G. A., & Dau, Y. L. D. (2025). Digital pressure and spiritual coping: Social media and adolescent mental health in Catholic schools in East Indonesia. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(8), 3680–3690. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.908000297
Carter, S., Mekawi, Y., Sheikh, I., Sanders, A. S., Packard, G., Harnett, N. G., & Metzger, I. W. (2022). Approaching Mental Health Equity in Neuroscience for Black Women Across the Lifespan: Biological Embedding of Racism From Black Feminist Conceptual Frameworks. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 7(12), 1235–1241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.08.007
Costescu, C., Roșan, A., David, C., Cozma, L., & Calota, A. (2023). The Relation between Cognitive and Emotional Processes in Children and Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental Disorders—A Meta-Analysis. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 13(12), 2811–2826. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe13120194
Cricenti, C., Mari, E., Barchielli, B., Quaglieri, A., Burrai, J., Pizzo, A., D’Alessio, I., Giannini, A. M., Ferracuti, S., & Lausi, G. (2022). Can Emotion Regulation Affect Aggressive Responses? A Study on the Ukrainian–Russian Conflict in a Non-Directly Exposed Sample. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(10), 6189. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106189
Ema Fitriya, Nur Hani’ah, & Hanifatul Khofifah. (2025). Tasawuf dalam Perspektif Psikologi: Harmoni Spiritual dan Kesehatan Mental. AJMIE: Alhikam Journal of Multidisciplinary Islamic Education, 5(2), 291–306. https://doi.org/10.32478/8zv7ag68
Fadillah, U., & Rozi, F. (2024). Pengaruh Dukungan Sosial dan Regulasi Emosi terhadap Quarter Life Crisis pada Dewasa Awal. Instructional Development Journal, 7(2), 373–379.
Fauzi, N. C., & Selian, S. N. (2025). Regulasi Emosi pada Individu Dewasa Awal yang Mengalami Quarter-Life Crisis. Kognisi: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Dan Konseling, 2(1), 9–21.
Fleeson, W. (2001). Toward a structure-and process-integrated view of personality: Traits as density distributions of states. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80(6), 1011.
Fortuna, D. D., & Nurmina. (2024). The Influence of Emotional Regulation on Internet Addiction towards Students Who Use Online Gambling Sites and Applications. Trend : International Journal of Trends in Global Psychological Science and Education, 1(3), 69–77.
Giromini, L., Velotti, P., De Campora, G., Bonalume, L., & Cesare Zavattini, G. (2012). Cultural adaptation of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale: Reliability and validity of an Italian version. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 68(9), 989–1007.
Girsang, E., & Chiuman, L. (2022). Beban Kerja Mental Perawat Dengan Metode Rating Scale Mental Effort (RSME). Window of Health: Jurnal Kesehatan, 419–432. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.33096/woh.vi.133
Hamza, C. A., Ewing, L., Heath, L. N., & Goldstein, A. L. (2021). When Social Isolation is Nothing New: A Longitudinal Study on Psychological Distress During COVID-19 among University Students with and Without Preexisting Mental Health Concerns. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne, 62(1), 20.
Hasyim, F. F., Setyowibowo, H., & Purba, F. D. (2024). Factors contributing to quarter life crisis on early adulthood: A systematic literature review. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 1–12.
Hünefeld, L., Gerstenberg, S., & Hüffmeier, J. (2020). Job satisfaction and mental health of temporary agency workers in Europe: a systematic review and research agenda. Work & Stress, 34(1), 82–110. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678373.2019.1567619
Kaur, S. P. (2013). Variables in research. Indian Journal of Research and Reports in Medical Sciences, 3(4), 36–38.
Koenig, H. G. (2024). Mental Health and Well-Being in Buddhism. In Eastern Religions, Spirituality, and Psychiatry (pp. 131–144). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56744-5_11
Laschinger, H. K. S., Borgogni, L., Consiglio, C., & Read, E. (2015). The effects of authentic leadership, six areas of worklife, and occupational coping self-efficacy on new graduate nurses’ burnout and mental health: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 52(6), 1080–1089.
Liu, C., Huang, N., Ahmed, F., Shahid, M., Wang, X., & Guo, J. (2021). The reverse buffering effects of social support on the relationships between stresses and mental health: a survey of Chinese adults during the COVID-19 lockdown. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1), 1952777. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1952777
MacLean, K. (2020). Giving back or fighting back? A transatlantic, qualitative study exploring citizenship, social movement learning and mental health. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.48730/6yvk-pq61
Man, X., Liu, J., & Xue, Z. (2022). Effects of Bullying Forms on Adolescent Mental Health and Protective Factors: A Global Cross-Regional Research Based on 65 Countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(4), 2374. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042374
Mania, S., malik Ibrahim, M., & Dewi, A. C. (2024). The Impact of Traditional Games on Social-Emotional Development: A Comprehensive Review of Existing Research. 39–51. https://doi.org/10.32996/jlds
Manurung, J. D. (2023). Pengaruh quarter life crisis terhadap subjective well-being pada dewasa awal di kota medan.
Matetovici, M., Spruit, A., Colonnesi, C., Garnier-Villarreal, M., & Noom, M. J. (2025). Parent and child gender effects in the relationship between attachment and both internalizing and externalizing problems of children between 2 and 5 years old: A dyadic perspective. Infant Mental Health Journal, 46(4), 424–444. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.70002
Moghimi, E., Stephenson, C., Gutierrez, G., Jagayat, J., Layzell, G., Patel, C., McCart, A., Gibney, C., Langstaff, C., Ayonrinde, O., Khalid-Khan, S., Milev, R., Snelgrove-Clarke, E., Soares, C., Omrani, M., & Alavi, N. (2023). Mental health challenges, treatment experiences, and care needs of post-secondary students: a cross-sectional mixed-methods study. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 655. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15452-x
Mohajan, H. K. (2020). Quantitative research: A successful investigation in natural and social sciences. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, 9(4), 50–79.
Morgantini, L. A., Naha, U., Wang, H., Francavilla, S., Acar, Ö., Flores, J. M., Crivellaro, S., Moreira, D., Abern, M., Eklund, M., Vigneswaran, H. T., & Weine, S. M. (2020). Factors contributing to healthcare professional burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic: A rapid turnaround global survey. PLoS ONE, 15(9 September), e0238217. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238217
Mori, C., Temple, J. R., Browne, D., & Madigan, S. (2019). Association of sexting with sexual behaviors and mental health among adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 173(8), 770–779. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.1658
Munguía, L., Jiménez-Murcia, S., Granero, R., Baenas, I., Agüera, Z., Sánchez, I., Codina, E., Del Pino-Gutiérrez, A., Testa, G., Treasure, J., & Fernández-Aranda, F. (2021). Emotional regulation in eating disorders and gambling disorder: A transdiagnostic approach. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 10(3), 508–523.
Oktaviani, P. M., & Soetjiningsih, C. H. (2023). Dukungan sosial dan quarter life crisis pada fresh graduate. Proyeksi: Jurnal Psikologi, 18(2), 237–250.
Özcan, S., & Sakız, H. (2025). Improving social-emotional skills for inclusion through traditional child games. Children and Youth Services Review, 173, 108299. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108299
Pebriangi, Z. (2020). Pengaruh Regulasi Emosi Terhadap Quarter Life Crisis Pada Mahasiswa.
Ramadhani, W. A., Erika, K. A., & Fitriani, N. (2024). The relationship between mental health literacy and adolescent resilience in crime prone areas in Indonesia. Journal of Health Literacy, 10(1), 90–99. https://doi.org/10.22038/jhl.2024.80746.1590
Scanlan, J. N., & Still, M. (2019). Relationships between burnout, turnover intention, job satisfaction, job demands and job resources for mental health personnel in an Australian mental health service. BMC Health Services Research, 19(1), 1–11.
Sharma, P. K., & Kumra, R. (2020). Relationship between workplace spirituality, organizational justice and mental health: mediation role of employee engagement. Journal of Advances in Management Research, 17(5), 627–650. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAMR-01-2020-0007
Sheldon, E., Simmonds-Buckley, M., Bone, C., Mascarenhas, T., Chan, N., Wincott, M., Gleeson, H., Sow, K., Hind, D., & Barkham, M. (2021). Prevalence and risk factors for mental health problems in university undergraduate students: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 287, 282–292. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.03.054
TKOA, N., Akoto-Baako, H., Antiri, E. O., & Ansah, E. W. (2025). Coping strategies for climate change anxiety: a perspective on building resilience through psychological capital. BMJ Mental Health, 28(1).
Vuorinen, I., Hagfors, H., Savolainen, I., & Oksanen, A. (2025). A longitudinal study on the effects of materialism and mental health on gambling problems in Finland. International Gambling Studies, 25(2), 257–268. https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2025.2467936
Wall, et al. (2021). Experiences and Challenges in the Role as Peer Support Workers in a Swedish Mental Health Context - An Interview Study. Issues in Mental Health Nursing.
Wang, M.-T., & Sheikh-Khalil, S. (2014). Does parental involvement matter for student achievement and mental health in high school? Child Development, 85(2), 610–625. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12153
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 ansen Simbolon, Hotpascaman Simbolon (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
