Rogina C. Lara
Dr. Ha Young Song
2 AB-Psychology
June 26,2015
 The life stage called early adulthood defines
individuals between the ages of 20 and 35, who are
typically vibrant, active and healthy, and are focused
on friendships, romance, child bearing and careers.
Yet serious conditions, such as violent events,
depression and eating disorders, can negatively
impact young adults.
 Early Adulthood extends from ages 18 to approximately
age 40, when the physical and psychological changes which
accompany the beginning of the loss of reproductive capacity
appear.
Physiological Changes
 Biological Changes
 Emerging adulthood and adolescence differ significantly
with regards to puberty and hormonal development. While
there is considerable overlap between the onset of puberty
(typically between the ages of 10 and 11 in girls and 11 and 12 in
boys) and the developmental stage referred to as adolescence,
there are considerably fewer hormonal and physical changes
taking place in individuals between the ages of 18-25. As most
girls finish puberty between the ages of 15 and 17, and most
boys finish by the time they are 16–17 years of age,emerging
adults have reached a stage of full hormonal maturity and are
now fully, physically equipped for sexual reproduction.
Ironically, while "emerging adults" might not feel ready for
parenthood, women reach levels of peak fertility throughout
this period of time (usually at some point in their early 20s).
Cognitive development
While many people believe that the brains of emerging
adults are fully developed, they are in fact still developing into
their adult forms. Many connections within the brain are
strengthened and those that are unused are pruned
away. Several brain structures develop that allow for greater
processing of emotions and social information. Areas of the
brain used for planning and for processing risk and rewards
also undergo important developments during this stage.
These developments in brain structure and the resulting
implications are one factor that leads emerging adults to be
considered more mature than adolescents. This is due to the
fact that they make fewer impulsive decisions and rely more
on planning and evaluating of situations.
 Abnormal development
The research shows that those with various disorders
will not feel symptoms until emerging adulthood.
Kessler and Merikangas reported that "50% of
emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 25
experience at least one psychiatric disorder." Not only
is the emergence of various disorders prevalent in
emerging adulthood, but the chance of developing a
disorder drastically decreases at age 28.
 Abnormal development
Seventy-five percent of any lifetime DSM-IV
anxiety, mood, impulse-control and substance
abuse disorder begins before age 24. Most onsets
at this age will not be, or become,comorbid. The
median onset interquartile range of substance
use disorders is 18-27, while the median onset
age is 20. The median onset age of mood
disorders is 25. Anxiety disorders tend to begin
at 25.
Relationships
Parent- child relationship
 Characterized by a reevaluation of the parent-child
relationship, primarily in regard to autonomy. As a child
switches from the role of a dependent to the role of a
fellow adult, the family dynamic changes significantly.
At this stage, it is important that parents acknowledge
and accept their child's status as an adult.This process
may include gestures such as allowing increased
amounts of privacy and extending trust. Granting this
recognition assists the increasingly independent
offspring in forming a strong sense of identity and
exploration at a time when it is most crucial.
Sexual relationships
There are a wide variety of factors that
influence
sexual
relationships
during
emerging adulthood. It is first important to
define sexual relations by emerging adult
standards. In the United States, typically oral
sex is not considered sexual intercourse by
most emerging adults.[23] However, vaginal
intercourse and anal intercourse are
consistently viewed as sexual intercourse by
emerging adults.