Chapter 5: Disruptions and Obstacles in the Lives of Emerging Adults

The gradual emergence of adult life involves major transitional experiences that bring, for most young people, fresh realizations about themselves and their place in the social world. It also brings adjustments of earlier expectations of what they can look forward to achieving in a long adult future. Emerging adults expect new things for themselves: new achievements, relationships, and opportunities. In turn, the social world expects new things of them and exerts pressure on them to take up adult roles and responsibilities. Most agree that people moving through this transitional period are directing their attention and efforts toward establishing their careers (Messersmith, Garrett, David-Kean, Malanchuck, & Eccles, 2008), forming stable close relationships (Collins, Raby, & Causadies, 2012), and constructing identities that give a sense of personal continuity and a place in the world (Schwartz, Côté, & Arnett, 2000; Tanner, 2005).