Emerging Adulthood Features and Adjustment

Abstract

A person-centered approach applied to the Inventory of Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) would provide a holistic outlook on this developmental period. This study aimed to (1) determine the presence of distinct profiles based on the IDEA scales and (2) compare these profiles with regard to sociodemographic indicators, internalizing problems, and problematic alcohol use. Participants (N ¼ 307; mean age ¼ 21) filled out the IDEA and questionnaires assessing internalizing problems and problematic alcohol use. Four profiles were identified: stalled transition (5%), moderate transition (43%), positive transition (35%), and transitional time (17%). Individuals in the transitional time profile reported higher internalizing problems and higher problematic alcohol use than youths assigned to the other profiles. These results suggest that applying a person-centered approach to the IDEA allows for the identification of distinct profiles with regard to the features of emerging adulthood and reported adjustment issues.

Linking Holistic Pathways to Adult Roles With Resolution of Tasks and Features of Emerging Adulthood: A Person-Oriented Approach

“…In general, these results highlight that the process of becoming an adult in this cultural setting is rather diverse, both regarding the pathways to adult roles and the resolution of tasks and features of EA. These findings are also compatible with previous studies that explored heterogeneity of features of EA (Lanctot & Poulin, 2018; Tagliabue et al, 2016). Most importantly, as further analyses also show, the heterogeneity of pathways can at least partially explain this heterogeneity of EA experiences to adult roles.…”

Perceived Social Support and University Adjustment among Spanish College Students

“…Transition to university is viewed as a major developmental event that provides a positive opportunity for personal growth during emerging adulthood (Arnett, 2000), a period of exploration and instability that occurs between the ages of 18 and 29 years. First year students must deal with new demands and changes such as moving away from their family home, establishing new relationships, developing new learning habits and coping with new levels of freedom in an unknown and highly competitive environment (Friedlander, Reid, Shupak, & Cribbie, 2007;Lanctot & Poulin, 2018;Tao, Dong, Pratt, Hunsberger, & Pancer, 2000). Such experiences are thought to help students to become self-sufficient and emotionally independent, and to achieve a sense of competence, interact with others with increasing tolerance, develop a sense of purpose (Chavoshi, Wintre, Dentakos, & Wright, 2017).…”

Alcohol Use and Emerging Adult Development: a Latent Profile Analysis of Community Drinkers

“…Our descriptions of profiles are similar to past research examining subgroups of emerging adults. Lanctot and Poulin (2018) found a profile characterized by low scores for all emerging adulthood features, which represented the smallest subgroup compared to other identified profiles. Similar to our Non-Exploring EA profile, members of this profile engaged in lower levels of problematic alcohol use.…”

“…Latent profile analysis (LPA) classifies individuals into distinct profiles based on IDEA scores and compared on various alcohol indices, providing a better understanding of the heterogeneity of emerging adulthood and variations in drinking behaviors. Recently, Lanctot and Poulin (2018) examined relations between IDEA latent profiles and several outcome variables and found several distinct profiles that differentially corresponded with psychological outcomes and alcohol problems. However, they did not account for rate of classification uncertainty.…”