Chapter 17 Summary

1. Emerging adulthood, from about age 18 to age 25, is a newly recognized period of development characterized by postponing parenthood, marriage, and career commitment, while attaining additional education.
2. Most emerging adults are strong and healthy. All the body systems function optimally during these years; immunity is strong; death from disease is rare.
3. Organ reserve, homeostasis, and allostasis help ensure that emerging adults recover quickly from infections and injuries. The gradual slowdowns of senescence begin as soon as puberty is complete but are not yet noticed.
4. Emerging adults are usually physically and sexually attractive, more concerned with their appearance than they will be later in life. Such concerns may be related to sexual drives as well as the need for employment, as attractive appearance correlates to better jobs and higher pay.
5. Emerging adults tend to eat well and exercise often, but poor eating or exercise habits may continue. Habits established in emerging adulthood affect health in the rest of adulthood.
6. More emerging adults have a healthy body mass index (BMI) than adults over age 25, but some have serious eating disorders.

7. Reproduction is most successful during emerging adulthood because both male and female bodies are at their most fertile. However, most emerging adults want to postpone parenthood.
8. Most young adults believe that sexual relationships before marriage are acceptable, but their sexual activity may arouse unexpected emotions and arguments about the purpose of sex—reproduction, relationship, or recreation.
9. Sexually transmitted infections are much more common among emerging adults now than in earlier generations, as well as more common than among sexually active older adults.

10. Generally, well-being increases during emerging adulthood, but so does the incidence of psychological disorders. Although the roots of such problems begin earlier, the stresses of this stage push some people over the edge.
11. Mood and anxiety disorders are apparent at every period of life, but some of the social contexts that are more prevalent during emerging adulthood tend to worsen these problems. Therapy can help, but many young adults do not seek it.
12. Schizophrenia is an example of the diathesis–stress model. Genes underlie the vulnerability, and prenatal nutrition is protective, but the expression of this disorder occurs most often during emerging adulthood.

13. Risk-taking increases during emerging adulthood, particularly among young men. Some risks are worth taking, but many—including drug abuse and addiction, unprotected sex, and extreme sports—are life threatening.
14. Context is crucial for risk-taking, with social norms particularly powerful during these years. Dangerous risks can be reduced when young adults are aware of social norms and attitudes.