Identity Processes during the Transition to Adulthood: Effect of Self-Views/Reflected Appraisals on Health Outcomes

• In Event: 4467 - Section on Social Psychology Refereed Roundtables (Cosponsored with Section on Sociology of Emotions)
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 1: Identity Development

Abstract

What does it mean to be an adult? How do views of self as an adult affect health behaviors? How does the perception of others’ expectations for what it means to be an adult affect mental health? The transition to adulthood is a pivotal point in the life course for establishing individuals’ trajectories for both family and career. This study contributes to our understanding of how identity and feedback from significant others affect health outcomes for young adults. Using an original sample of over 500 18- to 29 year-olds in the United States, we seek to establish if the adult identity serves as a resource to limit participation in health risk behaviors of marijuana use, problem alcohol use, and inebriated sex. Consistent with theoretical predictions, we find that viewing oneself as an adult is associated with lower levels of participation in these health risk behaviors. Additionally, we explore how feedback of others about meeting adulthood expectations affects anxiety and depression. Overall, as expected, there is a positive relationship between falling behind others’ expectations and psychological distress, even while controlling for own expectations about at what age one should accomplish markers of adulthood. In particular, falling behind perceived expectations of peers regarding markers of adulthood is associated with anxiety and falling behind the perceived expectations of parents and society regarding markers of adulthood is associated with depressive symptoms.

Authors

• Elizabeth Tomlin Culatta, Augusta University

• Jody Clay-Warner, University of Georgia