Emerging adulthood
Emerging adulthood is a relatively newly defined period of lifespan development spanning from 18 years of age to the mid-20s, characterised as an in-between time where identity exploration is focused on work and love.
When does a person become an adult?
There are many ways to answer this question. In Australia, you are legally considered an adult at 18 years of age, while in some other countries it's 21 years of age. But other definitions of adulthood vary widely.
In sociology, for example, a person may be considered an adult when she becomes self-supporting, chooses a career, gets married, or starts a family.
The ages at which we achieve these milestones vary from person to person as well as from culture to culture. For example, in the African country of Malawi, a girl could be married at 14 years of age, and have her first child at 15 years of age. In her culture she is considered an adult. Children in Malawi can also take on adult responsibilities such as marriage and work (e.g., carrying water, tending babies, and working fields) as early as 10 years of age.
In stark contrast, independence in Western cultures is taking longer and longer, effectively delaying the onset of adult life.
Why is it taking twentysomethings so long to grow up?
It seems that emerging adulthood is a product of both Western culture and our current times. People in developed countries are living longer, allowing the freedom to take an extra decade to start a career and family.
Changes in the workforce also play a role. For example, 50 years ago, a young adult with a high school diploma could immediately enter the workforce and climb the corporate ladder. That is no longer the case. Bachelor's and even graduate degrees are required more and more often—even for entry-level jobs.
In addition, many students are taking longer (five or six years) to complete a university degree as a result of working and going to school at the same time. After graduation, many young adults return to the family home because they have difficulty finding a job.
Changing cultural expectations may be the most important reason for the delay in entering adult roles.
Young people are spending more time exploring their options, so they are delaying marriage and work as they change majors and jobs multiple times, putting them on a much later timetable than their parents.
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