KNES 3630: Early Adulthood I
KNES 3630: Early Adulthood I
Instructor: Kelsey Kendellen, PhD
University: University of Lethbridge
Lecture Objectives
Differentiate between emerging and established adulthood.
Identify the 5 key features of emerging adulthood.
Describe key physical health trends in emerging adulthood.
Overview of the Lifespan
Periods of Life
Prenatal Period: Conception to birth (9 months).
Infancy: First 2 years of life (first month is neonatal).
Childhood: 2 to 10-12 years old.
Early childhood: Up to age 5-6.
Adolescence: 10-12 to 18-22 years old.
Early Adulthood: Late teens or early 20s to 45 years old.
Middle & Late Adulthood:
Middle: 45-60 years old.
Late: 60 to death.
Emerging Adulthood: Definition
Distinct developmental period (Arnett, 2006).
Transitional stage between adolescence and adulthood.
Age range: 18-25 years.
Characterized by exploration, extended education, and short-term employment.
A time of uncertainty and self-discovery.
5 Key Features of Emerging Adulthood
Identity Exploration: Exploring love, work, and core beliefs.
"This is a time of life for finding out who I really am."
Self-Focused: Limited social obligations leading to personal freedom.
"This is a time of my life for focusing on myself."
Feeling In-Between: Transitioning but still dependent on parents.
Not yet satisfying criteria for adulthood (e.g., financial independence).
Possibilities: A sense of optimism regarding future opportunities.
"Anything is possible" and confidence in achieving personal goals.
Instability: Frequent changes in choices leading to overwhelming feelings.
Changes in jobs, locations, and relationships.
Established Adulthood
Age Range: 30-45 years (Mehta et al., 2020).
Term replaces middle adulthood (30-65 years).
Career-and-care crunch: Balancing work and family responsibilities.
Markers of Adulthood (Clark, 2007)
Completion of education.
Independent living from parents.
One year of full-time work experience.
Marriage and parenting.
Economic instability leading to returning to parental home.
Physical Performance & Development
Peak physical performance typically occurs between ages 19-26.
By age 30, muscle tone and strength begin to decline.
Senescence: Natural physical decline with age.
Physical Health Trends
Physical health at 30 may predict life satisfaction at 70 (Mussen et al., 1982).
Holistic balance (work, family, leisure) is crucial for life satisfaction.
Bad health habits often developed in adolescence carry into adulthood.
Physical Activity
Exercise: Intentional movement for physical fitness or health.
Engaging in structured and planned physical activities.
Sedentary behavior defined as low energy expenditure activities (≤1.5 metabolic equivalents).
The "Active Couch Potato Phenomenon": Sedentary behavior not equivalent to physical inactivity.
Exercise Statistics
Low percentage of physically active young adults in Canada; high sedentary screen time.
Reports show significant inactivity, with 46% of 19-26 year-olds reporting no weekly exercise (Harris et al., 2006).
Obesity Trends
Obesity rates increase during early adulthood (Nicoteri & Miskovsky, 2014).
20% of adults aged 18-34 classify as obese (Statistics Canada, 2021).
Canada’s 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (Ages 18-64)
Physical Activity: Accumulate 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity weekly.
Sleep: 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep nightly.
Sedentary Behavior: Limit to 8 hours or less; no more than 3 hours of recreational screen time.
Exercise & Academic Achievement
57% of students with 85%+ averages were physically active for at least 60 minutes on five days or more (Hanseen, 2012).
Only 40% of students with lower academic performance met this activity level.
Sleep Trends
Recommendation of 7 to 9 hours per night (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2019).
70% of university students do not get adequate sleep; linked to lower academic performance (Chen et al., 2019).
Mean sleep duration for adults aged 18-64 is 7.9 hours.
Sleep Quality
2/3 of adults report good sleep quality, which correlates with positive health outcomes.
Poor sleep quality has negative health consequences.
Sleep Hygiene Recommendations
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, nicotine before bed.
Maintain regular sleep and wake times.
Practice relaxation and mindfulness techniques.
Sleep & Academic Performance
Good sleep enhances memory precision and academic success.
Sleep deprivation negatively impacts memory retention and concentration.
Alcohol Use Guidelines (Health Canada, 2021)
Acute Risk: Women - ≥3 drinks, Men - ≥4 drinks on a single occasion.
Chronic Risk: Women - ≥10 drinks weekly, Men - ≥15 drinks weekly.
Alcohol Use Trends
Binge drinking is defined as 5+ drinks in a row in the last two weeks.