Part VI: Emerging Adulthood

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Until very recent history, three roles traditionally signified adulthood: employee, spouse, and parent. Those roles were coveted, once puberty was over. But in the past few decades, millions of young people have found themselves on the border between adolescence and adulthood. Their bodies were fully grown by about age 18, but they did not want to plunge into adulthood.

Postponing adult roles was first evident among college students in rich nations. Their stage of life was labeled “youth” or “late adolescence” or “early adulthood.” But millions more young people now hover before full adulthood. The world’s teen birth rate has plummeted, marriage age has increased, and more than a billion people hope to attend college or are already there, expecting to work in their preferred occupation someday—but not yet.

Consequently a major shift has occurred in the study of life-span development. A new stage has appeared, worthy of a new name, emerging adulthood.