The Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood

This article discusses the transition from adolescence to adulthood, highlighting the challenges and changes involved. It explores the impact on education, employment, and social relationships, and emphasizes the importance of acquiring new skills for a successful transition.

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The transition from Adolescence to Adulthood
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The transition from adolescence to adulthood
According to Graber, Brooks and Petersen, 2019 human lifespan is characterized by
different phases, each with unique physiology. Transitions from adolescence to adulthood is
quite a challenging period for most people as it comes with many changes. Some of these
changes are developing new skills to cope with new experiences. This transition is the most
critical of all because it is characterized by the turn of events in almost every aspect of human
life, from physical, social name it. It means new responsibilities in domains like education,
employment, and family formation. It is in this transition that most individuals are separated
from the homes they have lived for years as most are sent for university education in different
parts of the country and outside counties far from family and friend. The decisions and actions an
individual take at this stage determine their future as it is the foundation for the future stage
(Arnett and Tanner, 2016)
As adolescents are transiting to adulthood, they are required to acquire new skills for
coping with the new stage which is often challenging. Throughout the adolescent stage, most
have been acquiring the education that gives them professional skills in their future careers
(Cohler and Musick, 2018). At the stage of adulthood however other life skills like social skills,
coping skills, self-esteem and confidence in intelligence abilities are important for a successful
transition and life. Another challenge adolescents face during the transition to adulthood is social
relations. During growth from childhood, a child bonds with parents, siblings and later with the
people in the society like classmates and neighbors. These bonds are important as they create
social well-being and the family bond, for example, plays a role of supporter in the individual’s
life like moral support, financial. The transition is challenging as it involves breaking most of
these bonds and form new ones. Transition to adulthood brings psychological tensions as one is
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expected to move from the things and experiences they are already used to, to totally new things
like new responsibilities as an adult one is expected to perform certain duties by both the parents
and even from a legal perspective. There is a standard expected behavior, accountability among
others which if not well taken and in a gradual manner can exert pressure on an individual
leading to psychological problems (Laufer, 2018).
According to Sawyer, Azzopardi, Wickremarathne and Patton, 2018), risk and protective
factors are variables that either hinder or promote the progress of young people to adulthood.
Among the protective factors is high self-esteem, being able to regulate one’s emotions, good
and supportive relations, having good coping skills among others. Some individuals, however,
are faced with risk factors that make the transition a difficult exercise. Some of the risk factors
that affect a majority of the people are; past peer rejection which causes one to have an
inferiority complex or low self-esteem, poor social skills, drug abuse and having a great need for
approval. Poor parenting is also another big factor for difficulties in transition. Good parenting
goes along with religious values and doctrines. (Simmons, 2017)
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References
Arnett, J. J., & Tanner, J. L. (2016). The emergence of emerging adulthood: The new life stage
between adolescence and young adulthood (2nd ed). New York: Routledge.
Cohler, B. J., & Musick, J. S. (2018). Adolescent parenthood and the transition to adulthood (3rd
ed). New York: Psychology Press.
Graber, J. A., Brooks-Gunn, J., & Petersen, A. C. (Eds.). (2019). Transitions through
adolescence: Interpersonal domains and context (3rd ed). New York: Psychology Press.
Laufer, M. E. (2018). Adolescence and developmental breakdown: A psychoanalytic view (3rd
ed). New York: Routledge.
Sawyer, S. M., Azzopardi, P. S., Wickremarathne, D., & Patton, G. C. (2018). The age of
adolescence. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 2(3), 223-228.
Simmons, R. G. (2017). Moving into adolescence: The impact of pubertal change and school
context (3rd ed). New York: Routledge.
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