YOUNG ADULTHOOD

YOUNGYOUNGADULTHOODADULTHOOD

EMERGING ADULTHOOD

- Period between late teens and mid- to late 20s when individuals are not adolescents but are not yet fully adults.

Exploration of career, self-identity and commitments.

Biological and Physiological development trends peak.

Brain development continues in different ways.

Risk for certain mental problems peaks.

Role TransitionIs movement into the next stage of development marked by assumption of new responsibilities and duties.

Cross-Cultural Evidence of Role

Transitions

Rites Of PassageRituals marking initiation into adulthood, often among the most important ones in a culture.

EXAMPLES

Rites of passage to adulthood are connected with religious rituals

Marriage is the most important rite of passage to adulthood in most cultures

Tribal cultures mark the transition to adulthood in public ways so that the

whole community witnesses it

Role Transitions in Western Cultures

EXAMPLES

Voting

Being Independent

Becoming a Parent

Some components of role transitions in Western Culture:

Going to College

Students start acting and thinking like adults because of advances in intellectual development and personal and social identity.

Much of this developmental changes occurs through social interaction.

Going to College

Returning adult students

College students over age 25. Implies that these individual have already reached

adulthood. Tend to be problem solvers, self-directed, may

have increased stress due to work-family-school conflict, and have relevant life experiences that they can integrate with their course work.

So when do people become adults?

- There is no definite answer. The transition depends on numerous cultural and psychological factors.

- Challenges faced by many adults in their 20s have been termed as “ quarterlife crisis ”

- Adjustment to adulthood is more difficult when the process of transition is less clear.

Physical

Development and

Health

Growth, Strength, and Physical Functioning

Strength, muscle development,coordination, dexterity and sensory acuity.

Most of these abilities begin to decline in middle age.

Health Status Young adults are also at the peak of health Death from disease is rare during 20s Accidents are the leading cause of death Poverty is also a major barrier to good health

Aspects that affect young adults'

health

Smoking is the biggest contributor to health problems. One is never too

old to quit smoking.

For most people, drinking alcohol poses few health risks.

*Binge Drinking – type of drinking defined for men as consuming 5 or more drinks in a row and for women as consuming 4 or more drinks in a row.

*Addiction – physical dependence on a substance like alcohol

Nutrition Nutritional needs change somewhat during

adulthood, mostly due to changes in metabolism.

Metabolism – how much energy the body needs

NutritionThe ratio of LDLs (Low-Density Lipoproteins-chemicals

that cause fatty deposits to accumulate in arteries, impeding blood flow) to HDLs (High-Density Lipoproteins-chemicals that help keep arteries clear and break down LDLs) in serum cholesterol, which can be controlled through diet or medication, is an important risk factor of cardiovascular disease.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Ratio of body weight and height and is related to total body fat

You can compute BMI as follows:

BMI = w/h² Where:

w – weight in kg

h – height in meters

Issues in Health

Socioeconomic Status The two most important social factors in

health are socioeconomic status and education.

The poorest health conditions exist for African Americans living in poor, inner city neighborhoods. Other ethnic groups with limited access to health care also suffer.

Higher education is associated with better health and more knowledge about proper diet and lifestyle.

Gender Whether women or men are healthier is

difficult to answer because women have been excluded from much health research.