Have you heard of the term “emerging adulthood”, roughly between the ages of 18 to 25? It was put forward by Jeffrey Arnett, who proposed this stage in human development [1].
This new life stage came about as a transitional period between adolescence and young adulthood over several generations in industrialized countries. It contrasts with pre-World War II, when most young people in these countries had entered stable adult roles in love and work by their late teens or early twenties. As of 2011, the median age of entering marriage in the US was 27 for women and 29 for men.
Arnett recognized that traditional typical markers of entering true adulthood (e.g. Leaving home, getting married, having children etc.) were changing. In his research, he observed these three criteria to adulthood:
- Accept responsibility for yourself
- Make independent decisions
- Become financially independent
The 5 Characteristics of Emerging Adulthood
Emerging adulthood, according to Arnett, consists of the following five features, each with suggested goals for successfully navigating this phase [2] [3]:
Identity Exploration
This is the most distinctive characteristic of this transitional period. Emerging adults actively explore possibilities in love, work, and personal values. This exploration helps them develop a more definite identity and understand their place in society.
In this process, they develop an understanding of who they are, what their capability and limitations are, what their beliefs and values are, and how they fit into the society around them. Emerging adults may choose a variety of strategies to:
- Participate in a diversity of experiences to discover their passions and strengths
- Think about their values and beliefs
- Find mentors who can offer guidance and perspective
Instability
Emerging adults often experience frequent shifts in relationships, living situations, and career paths. They may change residences frequently. Most move back in with their parents at least once. To manage this instability they may:
- Embrace change as an opportunity for growth
- Develop adaptability and resilience
- Practice financial management skills, including budgeting and saving
Self-Focus
During emerging adulthood, individuals focus on personal growth but without the full responsibilities of adulthood. Making the most of this time may involve:
- Participating in self-improvement and skill development
- Focusing on self-care and mental health
- Defining personal and professional goals
Feeling In-Between
Many emerging adults feel caught between adolescence and adulthood. They feel they are in a transitional period of life, on the way to adulthood but not there yet. To address this they may:
- Gradually take on adult responsibilities
- Develop independence in decision-making
- Seek support from peers and mentors when needed
Age of Possibilities
Emerging adulthood is a time when “the world is your oyster” and full of possibilities. Little about a person’s direction in life has been decided. It’s a time of high hopes and great expectations, partly because their dreams have not been tested. To capitalize on this outlook, emerging adults may:
- Explore various career and educational opportunities
- Take calculated risks to pursue their passions
- Cultivate a growth mindset and embrace lifelong learning
Increased Mental Health Risks and the Need for Connection
The challenges of emerging adulthood often bring with them periods of self-doubt, immobilization, and denial. In contrast to common beliefs that the transitions of emerging adulthood are positive events, they also consist of periods of loss that consist of considerable distress for some individuals [4].
In addition to the number of life transitions, emerging adults also experience mental health risks. The convergence of the five factors referred to earlier, contributes to critical periods of identity crisis and various psychological difficulties for some emerging adults involving significant distress [4].
This is doubly challenging because the emerging adult years are considered a critical time in the development of mental illness and substance abuse, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Elevated distress also increases impulsivity and risk-taking behaviors in emerging adulthood, compromising emerging adult well-being.
Emerging adults who feel secure in their relationship attachments and are supported by social networks are able to face the developmental challenges of emerging adulthood with greater confidence and well-being than those who lack support and secure attachments.
As well, the degree to which emerging adults are able to develop and rely upon support networks directly impacts their ability to adapt to various experiences and transitions. Involvement in community is an important part of this.
Practical Tips for Navigating Emerging Adulthood
In addition to the strategies mentioned above, here are some practical tips that emerging adults can do as they grow in this phase:
- Cultivate time management skills: Learn to balance work, education, and personal life.
- Create a support network: Cultivate relationships with friends, family, and mentors who can offer guidance and emotional support.
- Focus on education and career planning: Explore different educational paths and career options that align with your interests and goals.
- Develop financial responsibility: Learn about budgeting, saving, and building good credit.
- Cultivate resilience: Develop coping strategies to bounce back from setbacks and challenges. Working with a therapist can help deal with emotional issues, setbacks and clarify goals.
- Engage in self-reflection: Regularly assess your progress, goals, and personal growth.
It’s A Balancing Act
How well an adolescent makes the transition through young adulthood into adulthood and becomes a fully independent person, depends in large part on the right balance of the adolescent pushing for independence and parents and society giving the correct amount of support—not pushing too hard or holding back too much at this stage.
By actively engaging with these key aspects of emerging adulthood, young adults can navigate this transitional phase more effectively, setting a strong foundation for their future personal and professional lives.
Supporting Young Adults In Their Journey to Independence
Engage Young Adult Transitions is a transitional living program and therapeutic community that assists young adults on their path to independence. Using attachment theory, we provide a foundation for forming connections, getting involved with the community, managing mental health, and building life skills for long-term success.
Located just steps from Southern Utah University in Cedar City, we offer access to services seven days a week, including academic support, vocational training and career guidance, life skill coaching, mental health therapies, and recreational activities.
Our community offers high levels of therapeutic support that honors autonomy and independence while guiding young adults to a life of freedom, emotional wellness, and success. Get involved with the Engage Transitions community today!
Sources
[1] Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen (2004). Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens Through the Twenties. New York: Oxford University Press.
[2] Arnett, J. J. (2025). Emerging adulthood. In R. Biswas-Diener & E. Diener (Eds), Noba textbook series: Psychology. Champaign, IL: DEF publishers.
[3] Hochberg Z and M. Konner. 2019. Emerging Adulthood, a Pre-adult Life-History Stage. Front. Endocrinol., 13 January 2020. Sec. Pediatric Endocrinology. Volume 10 – 2019
[4] Lane J. Counseling Emerging Adults in Transition: Practical Applications of Attachment and Social Support Research. The Professional Counselor. Article, Volume 5 – Issue 1, emotional wellness, and success. Get involved with the Engage Transitions community today!