Young Adulthood

Emerging adult ages

18-25

How early adulthood has changed over time

-Ppl are now taking longer to reach milestones, like finishing college or establishing their own household
-Young adults are better educated, due in large part to a gender difference reversal: more young women are attaining college degrees than men
-More young people are working

Markers of becoming an adult

Holding a full-time job
Economic independence
Taking responsibility for oneself
-Finances
-Health
-Needs & responsiblites

Why do emerging adults have twice the mortality rate of adolescents?

-Engage in more health-compromising behaviors
-More likely to be overweight or obese
-Inadequate sleep

Eating and weight

-Being overweight or obese is linked to increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
-It is also associated with mental health problems.
-The most effective weight loss programs include exercise.
-The likelihood of maintaining a healthy weight is linked to:
•Having higher body satisfaction.
•Avoiding unhealthy weight control behaviors.
•Not engaging in restrictive dieting.
•Social support.

STI's

diseases primarily spread through sexual contact.

Most common bacterial sti's

chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis

Most common viral sti's

herpes, hpv, and hiv

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus, destroys the body's immune system, leading to acquired immune deficiency syndrome aka AIDS.

Strategies protecting against HIV and other sti's

-Know your and your partner's risk status
-Obtain medical examinations
-Have protected sex
-Do not have sex with multiple partners

formal operational stage

Piaget's theory. The final stage in cognitive development in adults and adolescents. Young adults are more quantitatively advanced, they have more knowledge about facts, concepts, problem-solving skills, etc. Adults especially increase their knowledge in a specific area. Many adults do not think in formal operational ways

Secure attachment

adults who have positive views on relationships, find it easy to get close to others, and are not overly concerned or stressed about their romantic relationships

Avoidant attachment

adults who are hesitant about getting involved in romantic relationships and once in a relationship tend to distance themselves from their partner

Anxious attachment

adults who demand closeness, are less trusting, and are more emotional, jealous, and possessive

intimacy versus isolation

Erikson's sixth stage of development. Intimacy is finding oneself while losing oneself in another person. Failure to achieve intimacy results in social isolation.

Identity development in adolescence has been shown to be a precursor to…

intimacy in emerging adulthood

Three main dimensions in Robert J. Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of Love

Passion, intimacy, commitment

Consummate love

Involves all three dimensions and is the fullest form of love

Romantic love

Intimacy and passion WITHOUT commitment

Companionate love

intimacy and commitment WITHOUT passion

Fatuous love

Passion and commitment WITHOUT intimacy

Cohabitating Adults

Living together in a sexual relationship without being married

Cohabiting information

-Some view it as an ongoing lifestyle, not as a precursor to marriage
-They spend time together, share expenses, and evaluate compatibility
-May face problems such as: disapproval of family, limited legal rights, potential impacts on later marriage

Married adults

the changing norm of male-female equality in marriage and increasingly high expectations has produced relationships that are more fragile and intense than in earlier generations

Characteristics of marital partners that predict the longevity of the marriage

Education- if both partners have a bachelor's degree

Marital trends

-Marriage rates in the US have declined
-The age at which individuals get married is going up
-Emerging young adults continue to view marriage as a very important life pursuit
-Individual's top reason for getting married is love
-Marriages that occur during adolescence are more likely to end in divorce

Divorce rate in the US

one of the highest

Groups that have a higher incidence of divorce

Youthful marriage, low educational level, low income, not having a religious affiliation, having parents who are divorced, and having a baby before marriage

Characteristics of one partner that increases the likelihood of divorce

-Alcoholism
-Psychological problems
-Domestic violence
-Infidelity
-Inadequate division of household labor

When does divorce most likely happen

Between 5th and 10th year of marriage