Dynamics of cognitive, emotional, and value-semantic characteristics of the self-image during a life crisis in young adults

The purpose of the study is to identify changes in the main components of the self-image in young adults under conditions of a subjectively significant life crisis. Research methods and organization. The empirical study was conducted from February to May 2026 at Kazan Federal University and had a short-term comparative-dynamic design with repeated diagnostics. The study involved students aged 18 to 23 years. The "Who Am I?" methodology by M. Kuhn and T. McPartland, the self-concept clarity scale, the self-attitude research methodology by S.R. Pantileev, the life meaning orientations test by D.A. Leontiev, and an author's questionnaire of subjective crisis/emotional tension and value uncertainty were used. Statistical processing included descriptive statistics, testing the normality of the distribution of differences, paired comparisons, and Spearman's correlation analysis. Research results and conclusions. It was established that by the time of the repeated diagnostics, the severity of subjective crisis, internal conflict, anxiety/emotional tension, and value uncertainty decreased; at the same time, self-concept clarity, self-acceptance, and meaningfulness of life increased. In the self-descriptions, the number of positive and value-semantic characteristics increased and the number of negative and ambivalent self-descriptions decreased. The obtained results confirm the systemic nature of changes in the self-image during a life crisis, but do not allow for causal conclusions due to the absence of a control group and the short observation interval.