Emerging Adulthood: What Is It, and What Is It Good For?

TLDR

Emerging adulthood is a useful framework for understanding the lives of late‑teens to mid‑late‑20s in industrialized societies. The article examines the place of emerging adulthood within the broader adult life course. It argues that emerging adulthood is preferable to earlier terms because those terms inadequately capture this new developmental phenomenon. Emerging adulthood is generally positive for most people, yet it brings developmental challenges and heterogeneity, with some individuals facing serious problems, and while societal fears of its dangers are overstated, it remains a mixed blessing.

Abstract

ABSTRACT— This article asserts that the theory of emerging adulthood is a useful way of conceptualizing the lives of people from their late teens to their mid‐ to late 20s in industrialized societies. The place of emerging adulthood within the adult life course is discussed. The weaknesses of previous terms for this age period are examined, and emerging adulthood is argued to be preferable as a new term for a new phenomenon. With respect to the question of whether emerging adulthood is experienced positively or negatively by most people, it is argued that it is positive for most people but entails developmental challenges that may be difficult and there is great heterogeneity, with some emerging adults experiencing serious problems. With respect to the question of whether or not emerging adulthood is good for society, it is argued that claims of the dangers of emerging adulthood are overblown, but emerging adulthood is probably a mixed blessing for society.