scholarly journals “I’m not a teenager, I’m 22. Why can’t I snap out of it?” A Qualitative Exploration of Seeking Help for a First-Episode Eating Disorder During Emerging Adulthood

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Potterton ◽  
Amelia Austin ◽  
Karina Allen ◽  
Vanessa Lawrence ◽  
Ulrike Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Developmental Phase ◽  
Structured Interviews

Abstract Background Eating disorders (EDs) are serious mental illnesses which typically have their onset during adolescence or the transition to adulthood. Emerging adulthood (EA) (~ 18–25 years) is a developmental phase which conceptually overlaps with adolescence (e.g. both are key periods for identity development) but also has unique characteristics (e.g. increased independence). EA may be a risk-period for delayed help-seeking for EDs, compared to adolescence.Objective This study aimed to explore emerging adults’ attitudes towards their ED symptoms, and their implications for help-seeking. Method: Participants were 14 emerging adults (mean age 20.9 years; SD = 2.0), all currently receiving specialist treatment for a first-episode, recent-onset (< 3 years) ED. Semi-structured interviews relating to experiences of help-seeking were conducted, and data were analysed thematically.Results Symptom egosyntonicity, gradual reappraisal and stereotypical beliefs about EDs were key attitudinal stages prior to help-seeking. Each attitude had distinct implications for help-seeking (e.g. superficial help-seeking; scaffolding by others; helps-seeking at transitions; self-sufficiency, indirect disclosure).Conclusions Emerging adults with first-episode EDs show a distinct set of help-seeking-related challenges and opportunities. These may justify policies and practice tailored specifically to this population group.

scholarly journals “I’m not a teenager, I’m 22. Why can’t I snap out of it?”A Qualitative Exploration of Seeking Help for a First-Episode Eating Disorder During Emerging Adulthood

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Potterton ◽  
Amelia Austin ◽  
Karina Allen ◽  
Vanessa Lawrence ◽  
Ulrike Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Care Pathway ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Developmental Phase ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Recent Onset ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities

Abstract Background: Eating disorders (EDs) typically have their onset during adolescence or the transition to adulthood. Emerging adulthood (~18-25 years) is a developmental phase which conceptually overlaps with adolescence but also has unique characteristics (e.g. increased independence). Emerging adults tend to come to ED services later in illness than adolescents, and emerging adulthood’s unique characteristics may contribute to such delays. Objective: This study aimed to explore attitudes towards ED symptoms, and their implications for help-seeking, amongst emerging adults receiving ED treatment through FREED, an early intervention care pathway. Method: Participants were 14 emerging adults (mean age 20.9 years; SD=2.0), all currently receiving specialist treatment for a first-episode, recent-onset (< 3 years) ED. Semi-structured interviews relating to experiences of help-seeking were conducted, and data were analysed thematically. Results: Symptom egosyntonicity, gradual reappraisal and feelings of exclusion from ED discourse were key attitudinal phases prior to help-seeking, each of which had distinct implications for help-seeking. Conclusions: Emerging adults with first-episode EDs show a distinct set of help-seeking-related challenges and opportunities (e.g. help-seeking for others; help-seeking at transitions; self-sufficiency). This research might be used to inform the development and evaluation of interventions which aim to facilitate help-seeking amongst emerging adults with first-episode recent-onset EDs.

Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood, Criteria for Adulthood, and Identity Development in Greek Studying Youth: A Person-Centered Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 411-431
Author(s):  
Evangelia Galanaki ◽  
Georgios Sideridis
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Latent Profile Analysis ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Southern European Country ◽  
Homogeneous Population ◽  
Person Centered Approach

Little research has been conducted on emerging adulthood in Greece, although sociodemographic specificities and constraints due to financial crisis are expected to reinforce prolonged transition to adulthood in this Southern European country. Using a person-centered approach, the current study aimed to examine dimensions of emerging adulthood, criteria for adulthood, and identity development among studying youth in association with personal and structural variables (i.e., gender, age, living arrangement, work experience, steady romantic relationship status, and financial adversity). Participants were 814 university students ( Mage = 19.9 years). Latent profile analysis yielded five profiles: anxious explorers in-between (29.90%), immature explorers (29.58%), emerging adults (18.30%), adult committers (12.58%), and blocked in transition (9.64%). Significant between-profile differentiation was found regarding all variables except from age and work experience. The results support the existence of emerging adulthood in Greece and indicate diverse paths to adulthood within the rather homogeneous population of studying youth in this country.

scholarly journals Growing pains: understanding the needs of emerging adults with chronic pain

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 108-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Twiddy ◽  
Julie Hanna ◽  
Louise Haynes
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Developmental Trajectory ◽  
Clinical Psychologist ◽  
Western World ◽  
Developmental Phase ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Growing Pains

Background: Emerging adulthood (18–30 years), in the Western world, is often a time of identity development and exploration, focusing on areas of work, relationships and education. Individuals with chronic illnesses, such as chronic pain, may be more vulnerable to facing challenges during this time. This study aims to investigate the needs of young adults (YAs) attending a tertiary level National Health Service (NHS) Pain Management Programme (PMP) Service in the United Kingdom; exploring how these needs may translate on to clinical assessment and the delivery of rehabilitation interventions. Method: This is a descriptive qualitative study influenced by phenomenological approaches. YA with a diagnosis of chronic pain were recruited and assigned to one of four focus groups facilitated by a clinical psychologist and occupational therapist. A semi-structured interview guide was used to help facilitate the group discussion. Results: Qualitative analysis identified four key themes in understanding the needs of YAs with chronic pain: (1) thwarted opportunities, (2) peer separation, (3) perceived illness validity in the context of age and (4) dependency/parental enmeshment. Conclusions: The emerging adulthood literature provides a valuable framework for examining a normal developmental trajectory and highlights the relevance of age-related processes in YAs with chronic pain. The idealisation of opportunity and the role of perception in this developmental phase both appear relevant. It is significant that emotional stability is not yet established in emerging adulthood and links to unhelpful management strategies that may be differentiated from older populations are identified.

scholarly journals Emerging adults’ family relationships in the 21st century: A systematic review

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Oliveira ◽  
Gabriela Fonseca ◽  
Luciana Sotero ◽  
Carla Crespo ◽  
Ana Paula Relvas
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Parent Child Relationship ◽  
Parent Child

<p>The current study aims to describe the relationships between emerging adults and their families and how these evolve over emerging adult years. Through a systematic review of the literature, we extracted data from 38 empirical studies, which met the following inclusion criteria: published since 2000, included emerging adults and/or their relatives as participants, and focused on family relationships. The results showed that most studies examined the parent-child relationship, providing insight into the relational renegotiations occurring during emerging adulthood and into inter-generational discrepancies in the way that parents and children viewed their relationships. Family support was also found to be of substantial relevance during this developmental stage. In addition, sex, age, living arrangements, family structure, socioeconomic status (SES), ethnicity and cultural contexts emerged as key factors influencing family relationships in varied ways. Implications for future research include the need to consider the family as the unit of analysis and to collect data from multiple family members; to conduct longitudinal studies in order to better understand changes in family relationships across emerging adulthood; and to focus on family relationships beyond the parent-child dyads, namely on sibling and grandparent-grandchildren relationships. In conclusion, this review provided a renewed perspective on family relationships during the transition to adulthood, contributing to clinical insights on individual and familial shifts in the fast-paced and complex contemporary context. </p>

scholarly journals The Revised Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA-R) and Substance Use Among College Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon-Patrick Allem ◽  
Steve Sussman ◽  
Jennifer B. Unger
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Binge Drinking ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Marijuana Use ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Substance Use Prevention ◽  
Identity Exploration

Transition-to-adulthood themes, or thoughts and feelings about emerging adulthood, have been measured by the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) and found to be associated with substance use among emerging adults. It has been suggested, however, that the IDEA is lengthy and may not include the most unique and theoretically relevant constructs of emerging adulthood. The Revised Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA-R) was developed as an alternative instrument, but research has yet to determine the relationship between the IDEA-R and substance use among emerging adults (ages 18–25 years). College students completed surveys indicating their identification with transition-to-adulthood themes and substance use. Logistic regression models examined the associations between transition-to-adulthood themes and marijuana use and binge drinking, respectively. Participants who felt emerging adulthood was a time of identity exploration were less likely to report marijuana use, while feelings of experimentation/possibility were positively associated with marijuana use and binge drinking. The IDEA-R may be useful for identifying correlates of substance use among emerging adults. Future research should evaluate the IDEA-R among representative samples of emerging adults to confirm the findings of this study. Health professionals working in substance use prevention may consider targeting the themes of identity exploration and experimentation/possibility in programs intended for emerging adults.

scholarly journals Emerging Adults’ Views on Masspersonal Self-Disclosure and their Bridging Social Capital on Facebook

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-146
Author(s):  
Adriana M. Manago ◽  
Chelsea J. Melton
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Social Network Sites ◽  
Civic Identity ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Bridging Social Capital ◽  
Quantitative Results

Masspersonal self-disclosure on social network sites entails new risks and benefits for bridging social capital, defined as social resources such as a connection to and investment in large and heterogeneous collectives, which are important to develop during the transition to adulthood in democratic societies. To better understand motivations and social capital consequences of masspersonal self-disclosure among emerging adults, this mixed-method study examined how U.S. college students view various topics of masspersonal self-disclosure and whether values embedded in their views contributed to their perceived bridging social capital, after accounting for their Facebook use and the diversity of their networks. A total of 208 (110 women, 95 men, 3 non-binary, Mage = 20.28) students completed online questionnaires while referring to their Facebook profiles. Qualitative analyses showed how valuing self-expression, alongside other-focused values, informed participants’ decision-making about masspersonal self-disclosure. Quantitative results showed that valuing self-expression more frequently across topics of self-disclosure predicted bridging social capital; however, the use of Facebook privacy controls and indicators of ethnic and political diversity in students’ networks did not. We discuss the importance of values in understanding emerging adults’ behaviors on social network sites, their generation of bridging social capital, and civic identity development.

The influence of culture in emerging adulthood: Perspectives of Chinese college students

2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry J. Nelson ◽  
Sarah Badger ◽  
Bo Wu
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Chinese Culture ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cultural Construction ◽  
Chinese College Students ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Adult Status

Emerging adulthood refers to a time period (18–25 years of age) between adolescence and adulthood. Recent research suggests that it may be a cultural construction. More traditional, non-Western cultures may have a shortened period of emerging adulthood, or no emerging adulthood at all, because these cultures tend to place greater emphasis on practices that lead to an earlier transition to adulthood. The purpose of this study was to examine emerging adulthood in the Chinese culture, including (1) the types of criteria Chinese young people deem necessary for becoming an adult, (2) the types of behaviours Chinese emerging adults are engaging in, (3) identity-related issues, and (4) other aspects of Chinese culture that might suggest that emerging adulthood in China may be different than in the United States. Participants in this study were 207 students at Beijing Normal University located in Beijing, China. Results provided evidence to support the notion that emerging adulthood is affected by culture. Findings revealed that the majority of Chinese college students (1) feel they have reached adult status in their early twenties, (2) have culturally specific criteria for adult status, and (3) tend to engage in behaviours and have beliefs and values that appear to differ from emerging adults in Western cultures.

Transition to Adulthood of Former Foster Youth

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 311-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Pryce ◽  
Laura Napolitano ◽  
Gina M. Samuels
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
Young People ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
The United States ◽  
Aging Out ◽  
Former Foster Youth ◽  
Care Patterns ◽  
Depth Interviews

This study examines the experiences of 28 emerging adults (mean age = 22; 16 female, 12 male) who have aged out of the child welfare system in the United States. Findings derived from in-depth interviews focus on the multilevel challenges these young people encounter in the help-seeking process upon aging out of care. Patterns highlight intrapersonal, interpersonal, and systemic barriers to help seeking that limit success of these young people during this developmental transition. These patterns include a sense of help seeking as both essential and inappropriate to development during this period. Patterns also highlight the myriad barriers faced by these young adults as they struggle to connect with critically needed resources during this stage. Implications inform work in child welfare, both with those receiving and providing care, during childhood and throughout the aging out process.

The Role of Financial Identity Processes in Financial Behaviors and Financial Well-Being

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110161
Author(s):  
Rimantas Vosylis ◽  
Angela Sorgente ◽  
Margherita Lanz
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Financial Behaviors ◽  
Identity Processes ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Financial Identity

Financial identity formed during emerging adulthood is important for the regulation of youth financial behaviors, decisions, and long-term financial goals. This three-wave short-term longitudinal study investigates how youth develop a distinct manner of approaching and managing personal finances and reveals the structure and dynamics of financial identity development during emerging adulthood. Using the cross-lagged panel model analysis, it also investigates longitudinal reciprocal associations between financial identity processes, financial behaviors, and financial well-being of emerging adults. The sample consists of 533 Lithuanian higher education students (56.8% women; M age = 18.93, SD age = 0.71) who took part in three assessment waves. The findings support the use of the three-factor model of financial identity formation and show that financial identity formation is shaped by emerging adults’ financial situation and contribute to the formation of financial behaviors and financial well-being. Practical implications of study results are also discussed.

scholarly journals Does involvement in food preparation track from adolescence to young adulthood and is it associated with better dietary quality? Findings from a 10-year longitudinal study

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 1150-1158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa N Laska ◽  
Nicole I Larson ◽  
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer ◽  
Mary Story
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Food Preparation ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Dark Green ◽  
Over Time

AbstractObjectivesTo examine whether involvement in food preparation tracks over time, between adolescence (15–18 years), emerging adulthood (19–23 years) and the mid-to-late twenties (24–28 years), as well as 10-year longitudinal associations between home food preparation, dietary quality and meal patterning.DesignPopulation-based, longitudinal cohort study.SettingParticipants were originally sampled from Minnesota public secondary schools (USA).SubjectsParticipants enrolled in Project EAT (Eating Among Teens and Young Adults)-I, EAT-II and EAT-III (n 1321).ResultsMost participants in their mid-to-late twenties reported an enjoyment of cooking (73 % of males, 80 % of females); however, few prepared meals including vegetables most days of the week (24 % of males, 41 % of females). Participants in their mid-to-late twenties who enjoyed cooking were more likely to have engaged in food preparation as adolescents and emerging adults (P < 0·01); those who frequently prepared meals including vegetables were more likely to have engaged in food preparation as emerging adults (P < 0·001), but not as adolescents. Emerging adult food preparation predicted better dietary quality five years later in the mid-to-late twenties, including higher intakes of fruit, vegetables and dark green/orange vegetables, and less sugar-sweetened beverage and fast-food consumption. Associations between adolescent food preparation and later dietary quality yielded few significant results.ConclusionsFood preparation behaviours appeared to track over time and engagement in food preparation during emerging adulthood, but not adolescence, was associated with healthier dietary intake during the mid-to-late twenties. Intervention studies are needed to understand whether promoting healthy food preparation results in improvements in eating patterns during the transition to adulthood.

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