Navigating Change: How Gender and Age Groups Influence the Feeling of Inadequacy Among Malaysian Young Adults and Adolescents

The feeling of inadequacy can negatively influence Malaysian youth. Individuals who experience a strong sense of inadequacy tend to have negative self-evaluations, lower self-esteem, and doubts about their abilities. No one is perfect in this world. However, unrealistic self-evaluation can foster feelings of inadequacy among Malaysian youth. The cross-sectional survey study involves 50 adolescents and 50 young adults. The research employed a quantitative approach, utilizing Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis to examine the predictive effects of age groups and gender on feelings of self-inadequacy. Although there were significant relationships between the predictors (age groups and gender) and feelings of self-inadequacy, only 8.4% of the variance in feelings of self-inadequacy was explained by the predictors. Therefore, the current study recommends further exploration of multiple factors, as feelings of self-inadequacy may result from a complex interplay of cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and physiological processes. The study’s findings offer valuable insights for the government, the public, and educators to re-examine the needs of different age groups and genders in order to address feelings of self-inadequacy among Malaysian youth during this critical developmental transition.