Suchergebnisse

For 20 years, the theory of emerging adulthood has shaped how we think about the third decade of life. In honor of that I would like to revisit the distinct features of emerging adulthood outlined in the theory but then discuss them in light of what we know now via a lens that looks not at what those distinct features are but what they afford, or offer, young people for good and for ill. By thinking about what emerging adulthood affords, we can better capture the heterogeneity of paths young people take through the 20s. Specifically, it is my hope to have us think about the potential positive and negative implications of emerging adulthood on the lives of young people throughout the 20s and into subsequent life stages. Finally, I will underscore the obligation we have to take what we now know to help emerging adults.

AbstractScholars have distinguished conceptually between multiple forms of social withdrawal among children and adolescents, but this distinction has yet to be investigated fully during emerging adulthood. Therefore, the overarching goal of this study was to employ a person‐oriented approach to examine differences between subtypes of withdrawal on indicators of internalizing issues and relationships in emerging adulthood. The sample for the current study (Mage = 19.60, SD = 1.85, range = 18–29) consisted of 791 undergraduate students (548 women, 243 men). Results revealed that three distinct forms of social withdrawal (shyness, avoidance, unsociable) can be identified in emerging adulthood, with each one uniquely related to indices of maladjustment in regard to internalizing problems and relationship difficulties. In general, both shy and avoidant individuals reported more problems of an internalizing nature and in their relationships. Far fewer problems appear to exist for unsociable individuals.

AbstractPrevious research has discovered different subtypes of social withdrawal based on motivations to approach or avoid social interactions. Each of these motivations are uniquely related to indices of maladjustment during emerging adulthood, including aspects of the self. However, research has yet to investigate whether or not relationship quality moderates these associations. The purpose of this study was to examine whether relationship quality with best friends, romantic partners, mothers, and fathers, respectively, serve as protective factors in the negative links between shyness and avoidance and self-worth. The participants included 519 college students (Mage = 19.87, SD = 1.99, 61% female) from four universities across the United States. Results revealed that relationship quality with both best friends and romantic partners moderated the relation between shyness and self-worth. The differences between parent and peer relationships are discussed.

Filial piety is an important cultural construct in the lives and behaviors of Chinese emerging adults and may act as a moderating factor for the relationship between perceived parenting practices and indices of adjustment. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not filial piety moderates the influence of psychologically controlling and warm parenting behaviors on internalizing problems, self-esteem, and risk behaviors. Using a sample of Chinese college students ( N = 612), results from regression analyses indicated that filial piety moderated the relationship between psychological control and self-esteem, in that psychological control predicted lower self-esteem at high and moderate levels of filial piety values but was not related at low filial piety values. The discussion focuses on the possibility that filial piety may exacerbate the conflict between psychologically controlling tactics and autonomy.

The purpose of this study was to (a) use mixture modeling to identify different groups of emerging adults based on differences in beliefs/attitudes, attributes, and behaviors and (b) examine whether these classes were differentially related to the criteria deemed important for adulthood, levels of identity development (exploration and commitment), and the quality of the parent–child relationship. Participants consisted of 487 undergraduate students (281 women, 206 men, mean age of 20.07 years) in the United States. Results of cross-sectional mixture modeling identified three classes of emerging adults including an externalizing group (high levels of drinking, drug use, sexual partners, pornography use, and video game use), a poorly adjusted group (high levels of depression, anxiety, drinking, drug use, sexual partners, and low levels of self-worth), and a well-adjusted group (high levels of internal regulation of values, religious faith, and low levels of depression, anxiety, drinking, drug use, and violent video game usage).

This study aimed to investigate the ways subtypes of social withdrawal and dimensions of solitude are related to existential concerns in emerging adulthood. The links between social withdrawal/solitude and existential well-being are a highly neglected research issue. Participants were 774 emerging adults (50.4% males) aged 18–25 ( M = 20.07) from Greece. They completed measures on social withdrawal, solitude, authenticity, meaning in life, existential anxiety, and existential loneliness. We used structural equation modeling to analyze the data. Results indicated that shyness, avoidance, and isolation were associated with more existential concerns, whereas unsociability was associated with less existential concerns. The solitude dimensions—enlightenment, freedom, intimacy, and loneliness—were differentially associated with existential concerns, with enlightenment exhibiting the most existential benefits. Findings showed that existential well-being is dependent on emerging adults' quality of withdrawal experiences and ability to make constructive use of solitude.

AbstractThere is growing evidence that motivations reflecting social withdrawal are linked to various correlates and outcomes in childhood, adolescence, and emerging adulthood. However, little work has examined the subtypes of withdrawn motivations in early adulthood. Hence, the purpose of this study was to compare shy, avoidant, unsocial, mixed‐withdrawn, and non‐withdrawn men and women in early adulthood on indices of well‐being. This study drew on a large, representative U.S. sample of 5,000 participants (2,930 female) ages 30–35 (Mage = 32.50, SD = 1.70). Findings reveal that shy, avoidant, and mixed‐withdrawal individuals experience more negative outcomes (e.g., receiving less education) and lower well‐being (e.g., lower life satisfaction, more internalizing problems, and regret) in early adulthood.

AbstractAlthough the construct of solitary‐active behavior calls for the aggregation of solitary‐functional play and solitary‐pretend play, there is little empirical support for combining them into one construct. Furthermore, little work has been done in early childhood to examine these behaviors on the playground. The purpose of this study was to observe children's behavior on the playground to explore whether solitary‐functional and solitary‐pretend behaviors are related to one another and to other indices of social adjustment/maladjustment. Examining a sample of 361 preschoolers, results revealed that (1) solitary‐functional and solitary‐pretend play were not related, (2) solitary‐functional play was associated with solitary‐passive and reticent behaviors, as well as less social play, co‐operative rough and tumble play, sociable/friendliness, assertiveness, and lower peer acceptance, and (3) solitary‐pretend play was linked to lower peer acceptance and more social maladjustment, including venting, reactive aggression (but not proactive aggression), active exclusion, victimization, and being distractible.

The current study used a person-centered approach to investigate different profiles of helicopter parenting in conjunction with parental psychological control and parental warmth. Child outcomes of parenting profiles were also examined. Participants consisted of 458 emerging adults who completed questionnaires at age 19 (51% female, 33% from single families, 74% college students). Latent profile analyses were conducted separately for mothers and fathers, and profiles included "warm helicopter" parents (77% of mothers, 50% of fathers), "controlling helicopter" parents (20% of mothers, 12% of fathers), "low-involved" parents (3% of both mothers and fathers), "average" fathers (30%), and "high controlling helicopter" fathers (4%). Parenting profiles were differentially associated with children's school engagement, depression, and delinquency. Discussion focused on the relatively low salience of helicopter parenting in relation to other aspects of parenting and the implications for emerging adult children's development.

Research conducted in Western cultures such as the United States has shown that shyness is a risk factor in development. Much less is known, however, about the role of shyness during emerging adulthood in China. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between shyness and internalizing (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety, and self-harm) and externalizing (e.g., drinking, smoking, and illicit drugs) behaviors in emerging adults in China. Participants included 616 undergraduate students (368 men and 248 women). Results revealed that shyness was positively associated with higher levels of internalizing problems.

The purpose of this exploratory longitudinal study was to examine stability and change of helicopter parenting throughout the first few years of emerging adulthood and to examine child and parent–child relational factors that might predict helicopter parenting. Participants included 453 emerging adults from a northwestern city in the United States (51% female, 33% single-parent families) who participated in a 10-year longitudinal study, with the current study examining ages 19–21. Results revealed that (a) for both mothers and fathers, helicopter parenting decreased over time, (b) some child and relational factors predicted initial levels of helicopter parenting, but (c) the findings were somewhat different for mothers and fathers and for daughters and sons. The findings support the growing understanding that the links between helicopter parenting and child (mal)adjustment are nuanced and complex. Findings have implications for those who work with parents and young people in trying to promote flourishing during emerging adulthood.

The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating role of parental warmth in the relation between helicopter parenting and indices of child adjustment (i.e., self-worth and school engagement) and maladjustment (i.e., risk behaviors) in emerging adulthood. Participants included 438 undergraduate students from four universities in the United States ( Mage = 19.65, SD = 2.00, range = 18–29; 320 women). Regression analyses established that increased helicopter parenting was associated with lower levels of self-worth and higher levels of risk behaviors for those emerging adults who reported low levels of maternal warmth from their parents (especially their mothers), but not for those with high levels of warmth. The discussion focuses on the moderating role of parental warmth and the importance of emerging adult perceptions of the parent–child relationship.