Strategi Coping Anak Pertama yang Mengalami Quarter Life Crisis Masalah Pekerjaan

Coping Strategies of Firstborn Children Experiencing a Quarter Life Crisis Related to Career Issues

Anak pertama cenderung menanggung tanggung jawab keluarga yang lebih besar, sehingga tekanan saat memasuki dunia kerja juga menjadi lebih berat. Penelitian ini bertujuan memahami strategi coping anak pertama yang mengalami quarter life crisis akibat belum mendapat pekerjaan setelah lulus kuliah. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode studi kasus untuk menggali pengalaman partisipan secara mendalam. Partisipan berjumlah tiga anak pertama berusia 22-25 tahun yang belum mendapatkan pekerjaan setelah menyelesaikan perguruan tinggi. Data diperoleh melalui wawancara semi-terstruktur dan dianalisis secara tematik. Hasil menunjukkan partisipan mengalami tekanan atau beban psikologis, kebingungan arah, dan perasaan gagal akibat ekspektasi keluarga, tanggung jawab anak pertama, dan tekanan sosial. Untuk mengatasi krisis, partisipan menggunakan strategi coping, antara lain problem-focused coping seperti mengikuti pelatihan dan aktif melamar pekerjaan, serta emotion-focused coping seperti mencari dukungan emosional dan mencari kegiatan yang menyenangkan. Penelitian ini memberi gambaran psikologis anak pertama saat menghadapi quarter life crisis, terutama masalah pekerjaan serta pentingnya strategi coping adaptif dalam proses pencarian kerja.

Firstborn children tend to bear greater family responsibilities, making the pressure of entering the workforce even heavier. This study aims to understand the coping strategies used by firstborns experiencing quarter life crisis due to unemployment after graduating from college. A qualitative approach with a case study method was employed to explore the participants’ experiences in depth. The participants were three firstborn individuals aged 22–25 who had not secured employment after completing higher education. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically. The results showed that the participants experienced psychological pressure, confusion about their direction in life, and feelings of failure caused by family expectations, firstborn responsibilities, and social pressure. To cope with the crisis, participants used strategies including problem-focused coping such as attending training programs and actively applying for jobs, as well as emotion-focused coping like seeking emotional support and engaging in enjoyable activities. This study provides insight into the psychological experiences of firstborns facing a quarter life crisis, particularly regarding employment issues, and highlights the importance of adaptive coping strategies during the job search process.