Curse of 35: The significance of work culture, ageism, and quiet quitting among the youth workforces

<p>This study explored the phenomenon of increased insecurity and prejudices faced by Chinese employees approaching age 35, known as the “Curse of 35.” Using social exchange and stereotype threat theories, we analyzed the effects of organizational injustice, unhealthy work environment, work-life imbalance, effort-reward imbalance, limited career development opportunities, and age discrimination at work on stress and anxiety, burnout fatigue, and quiet quitting.

This study also explored the moderating roles of occupational self-efficacy and age discrimination in the labor market. Employing a cross-sectional survey design, survey data were collected from 610 Chinese employees and analyzed using partial least-squares structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis. The results revealed that forms of organizational injustice, an unhealthy work environment, work-life imbalance, effort-reward imbalance, limited career development opportunities, and age discrimination at work all contribute to stress and anxiety, as well as burnout fatigue.