The generation of Chinese born in the 1980s, when China reformed and opened itself up, are coming of age and starting to make their mark on Chinese society.

As China's economy rapidly developed over the last three decades, so have the expectations of 1980s generation, the first generation of country's single-child families to enter the workforce. They grew up with dreams of becoming the next business tycoon or Internet guru. But they are now confronting a harsh reality.

WHEN IDEAL MEETS WITH REALITY

"I used to be proud of my work, but that feeling is fading," says Xiao Yuexin, a 26-year-old working in advertising.

"I've worked for three years since graduation. But I have more and more debt every month, and I am always wondering where my salary has gone," she adds.

Xiao earns 5,000 yuan a month, a good income for recent graduate. But she loves luxury goods and is very active socially -- she calls these her "happiness investments."

Xiao is reluctant to give up buying luxury goods, like Dior handbags and a flash apartment. She feels it is through these things she can enjoy her life, even as the increasingly large monthly repayments on her debt stress her.

"I am exhausted. I'm like a slave. I don't know where my happiness went," she laments.

Xiao's situation reflects one of the social problems younger Chinese face: their pursuit of happiness has met with the reality. They feel they have become slaves to their house, their car, their credit cards, and their baby--all the things that they would bring contentedness.

TOO MUCH TO AFFORD

In an Internet survey on people.com.cn, one of China's major Internet portals, nearly 61.5 percent of 2,384 respondents regard themselves as "slaves" to their babies.

Some netizens complain they had spent all their money on their child, with the fees to send the child to kindergarten "incredibly high."

About 60.7 percent of 3,236 peopled surveyed believe that economic pressures are the main cause of these social problems.

"Some people's expectations for their lives, including those relating to babies and houses, are too high. They can't afford them. So they become slaves to themselves," one netizen commented.

Another netizen chimed in saying the government should support this generation of "slaves," because society has heaped too much pressure on them.

The 1980s generation grew up in an environment where things improved and developed quickly, and as a result, they are more susceptible to temptations and pressure, said Professor Zhang Zhimin from Hubei University's population department.

"This generation will become masters of their own happiness when the government reduces the pressures on them. And when these young people themselves rethink what their 'ideal life' is," she said.