DEV2004 Chapter 7 Emerging Adulthood

Emerging and Established Adulthood

• Early adulthood is divided into two stages: Emerging adulthood (ages 18-29) and established adulthood (ages 30-45).
• This period is characterized by peak physical capabilities, mature cognitive development, financial independence, and intimate relationships.

Emerging Adulthood Defined

• Emerging adulthood represents a transitional phase where individuals have left childhood yet have not fully embraced adult responsibilities.
• This stage features identity exploration, indicating significant career and relationship development.
• Includes five key characteristics:
  • Age of Identity Exploration: Identity formation largely occurs during this period rather than adolescence.
  • Age of Instability: Frequent changes in jobs, residences, and relationships abound, leading to uncertainty.
  • Age of Self-Focus: Emerging adults focus on personal goals while still being considerate of others, particularly parents.
  • Feeling In-Between: Young adults often oscillate between feeling adult-like and remaining dependent in some areas, with 60% feeling duality in adulthood.
  • Age of Possibilities: A time of optimism where emerging adults envision achieving personal dreams and escaping unfavorable circumstances.

Socioeconomic Class and Cultural Variations

• Emerging adulthood theory initially criticized for representing primarily upper-middle-class experiences in the U.S.
• Research across socioeconomic classes indicates variations in perceptions of adulthood, particularly among lower-income individuals.
• In developed countries, emerging adulthood transitions are marked by profound educational engagement and changes in marriage and parenthood timings.
• Cultural differences exist, with Western perceptions embracing individualism and financial independence; Asian cultures often emphasize familial obligations over individual aspirations.

Transition to Adulthood

• Transition markers have shifted away from marriage and parenthood towards financial independence and personal responsibility as indicators of adulthood in contemporary Western culture.
• Role transition markers are still valued particularly among traditional or collectivist-oriented individuals.

Established Adulthood Defined

• Established adults (ages 30-45) tend to focus more on career advancement, intimate relationships, and parenting, usually after completing education in their twenties.
• Individuals often settle into stable long-term careers and have children, taking on substantial family responsibilities.

Living Arrangements and Trends

• In 2014, more U.S. adults aged 18-34 lived with their parents than with partners, reversing a 130-year trend.
• 36% of black and Hispanic early adults lived at home compared to 30% of white young adults; young men were more likely to live with parents versus young women.
• Factors influencing this trend include economic factors, delayed marriages, and changing societal norms regarding adulthood.

The Physiological Peak

• Individuals in early adulthood (mid-twenties to mid-forties) experience peak physical health and capabilities, including muscle strength and reproductive health.
• Gradual aging signs begin around age 30, leading to slight declines in physical functionalities like vision and strength over time.

Obesity in Early Adulthood

• By 2016, approximately 39.8% of U.S. adults were classified as obese, attributed to environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors.
• Key definitions:
  • BMI Categories: Overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9) and Obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0).
• Obesity is a leading cause of death and results in significantly elevated medical care costs in the United States, totaling approximately $147 billion in 2008.### Health Risks of Obesity
• Obesity significantly increases the risk of serious health issues, including mortality, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke.
• Other health implications include gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, certain cancers (endometrial, breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder, liver), mental illnesses, and reduced quality of life.

Early Adulthood Health Trends

• Early adulthood is marked by less frequent doctor visits, mainly due to injuries and pregnancy.
• Top causes of death in this age group are non-intentional injury, homicide, suicide, cancer, and heart disease.

Alcohol Consumption and Risks

• 88% of individuals aged 18+ reported drinking alcohol at least once; 57% drank in the past month.
• Heavy drinking affects 6.7% of adults, leading to approximately 88,000 annual alcohol-related deaths.
• Alcohol-impaired driving resulted in nearly 10,000 fatalities in 2014, accounting for 31% of all driving fatalities.

College Drinking Statistics

• 60% of full-time college students aged 18-22 drank alcohol in the past month compared to 51.5% of their non-college peers.
• 38% of college students engaged in binge drinking; 12% reported heavy drinking.
• Consequences of college drinking include approximately 1,825 deaths from unintentional injuries and 696,000 assaults by intoxicated students annually.

Gender and Alcohol-Related Assaults

• Alcohol is a significant predictor of sexual assault on college campuses, with over 80% of assaults involving alcohol.
• Intoxication increases the risk for victims and often leads to greater self-blame for female victims.

Factors Promoting College Drinking

• Influencing factors include alcohol availability, enforcement of drinking laws, social pressures, and stress coping mechanisms.
• Freshman year is particularly vulnerable due to the transition to college life and social environments that promote drinking.

Strategies to Decrease College Drinking

• Interventions focus on at-risk groups through educational programs, reducing alcohol availability, and engaging health professionals in campus efforts.

Drug Use Trends

• Illicit drug use peaks between ages 19-22, with significant opioid misuse reported among emerging adults.
• Prescription drug overdoses caused over 1,700 deaths in 2014, with dramatic increases since 1999.

Gender Identity and Cultural Variations

• Gender identity expressions vary culturally; societal gender roles continue to create expectations tied to masculinity and femininity.
• Individuals challenge traditional gender binaries, leading to a broader understanding of gender identification.

Gender Minority Experiences

• Gender nonconforming individuals face higher harassment rates and discrimination in various sectors, particularly marginalized racial groups like transgender people of color.

Mental Health Impacts on Gender Minorities

• Transgender and gender nonconforming individuals report elevated levels of anxiety and depression, attributed to external and internal stressors associated with their minority status.

Sexuality and Its Dimensions

• Human sexuality encompasses a spectrum of experiences, including emotional, social, and biological aspects, influencing behaviors and overall well-being.
• Key sexual hormones include oxytocin, testosterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone, which play vital roles in sexual motivation and reproductive functions.

Sexual Response Cycle

• The cycle involves four main phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution, influencing both male and female sexual experiences differently across the lifespan.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

• Common STIs include chlamydia, herpes, HPV, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV/AIDS, with 2014 reporting significant increases in chlamydia and gonorrhea cases.
• Safe sex practices are critical in preventing STIs, particularly among high-risk populations.### Safe-Sex Supplies
• Proper use of condoms, gloves, or dental dams minimizes exposure to sexually transmitted diseases but does not completely eliminate the risk.
• Some transmission of diseases may still occur despite barrier methods.

Societal Views on Sexuality

• Societal attitudes toward sexuality evolve and are shaped by religion, philosophy, peers, and media.
• Historically, religion has had a major influence on sexual behavior in the U.S., but recent trends indicate peers and media significantly influence American teens.
• Mass media impacts perceptions of normal sexuality, body image, and sex appeal, affecting sexual identities and attitudes, particularly for women.

Cultural Differences in Sexual Behavior

• In Western cultures, premarital sex is common by late teens; cohabitation is also prevalent before marriage in the U.S. and Canada.
• Southern Europe views cohabitation as taboo but permits premarital sex, while many Asian cultures forbid both until later adulthood.
• A significant cultural difference exists, with about 75% of U.S. and European emerging adults engaging in premarital sex by age 20, compared to less than 20% in Japan and South Korea.

Understanding Sexual Orientation

• Sexual orientation encompasses emotional and sexual attraction to specific genders and informs a person’s identity and community membership.
• It exists independently of gender identity, allowing transgender individuals to identify with any sexual orientation.

Sexual Orientation Continuum

• Alfred Kinsey proposed a seven-point scale to represent sexual orientation as a spectrum rather than a binary concept.
• Sexual orientation can be classified into various categories: heterosexuality (straight), homosexuality (gay/lesbian), bisexuality (attraction to any sex/gender), pansexuality, polysexuality, and asexuality (lack of sexual attraction).
• Asexuality affects about 1% of the population and is recognized as a distinct sexual orientation.

Development and Fluidity of Sexual Orientation

• Awareness of sexual orientation typically emerges between middle childhood and early adolescence, though some may recognize it later in life.
• Participants can acknowledge their sexual orientation without engaging in sexual activities.
• Research suggests sexual orientation may not be fixed and can be fluid throughout a person's life.

Biological Influences on Sexual Orientation

• Heredity contributes to sexual orientation, supported by twin studies indicating higher concordance rates for identical vs. fraternal twins.
• The fraternal birth order effect shows that males with older brothers are more likely to identify as homosexual due to maternal immunization theories.
• Hormonal exposure during prenatal development is another factor; for example, abnormal levels of prenatal androgens may influence sexual orientation.

Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation

• U.S. society predominantly supports heterosexuality, leading to a heteronormative environment where non-heterosexual orientations face discrimination and stigma.
• Homophobia includes a spectrum of negative attitudes and behaviors, affecting LGBTQ+ individuals through harassment and violence.
• Discrimination can happen in various settings including workplaces, schools, and housing, often influenced by stereotypes and misinformation.

Mental Health Impact on Sexual Minorities

• LGBTQ+ youth experience heightened risks of depression and suicide due to rejection and negative portrayals in society.
• Many studies on LGBTQ+ populations are biased towards white, middle-class individuals, overlooking the experiences of marginalized groups affected by intersecting social issues.

Explore the developmental stages of early adulthood in this quiz focusing on Emerging and Established Adulthood. Learn about the physical, cognitive, and social developments that occur between the ages of 18 and 45. This chapter highlights key concepts from Mehta et al., 2020, concerning these important life stages.