Young adulthood refers to the stage in a person's life that bridges adolescence and full adulthood. It is typically characterized by independence, career development, and the pursuit of personal goals. The spelling of this term uses the IPA phonetic transcription, which is similar to the way it is pronounced: /jʌŋ əˈdʌltˌhʊd/. The initial sound is a "y" sound, followed by a short "uh" sound, then "ng". The stress is on the second syllable, with a short "a" sound and a "t" sound at the end.
: Young adulthood refers to the developmental stage in a person's life between adolescence and adulthood, roughly encompassing the ages of 18 to 30 years. This period is characterized by significant physical, emotional, and cognitive changes, as individuals transition from the dependency of adolescence to assuming greater independence and responsibilities of adulthood.
Physically, young adulthood marks the completion of biological growth and the attainment of adult sexual maturity. It is a time when individuals reach their peak physical strength, athleticism, and stamina. Emotional development during this stage is marked by greater stability and maturity, as individuals become more self-aware, develop a sense of identity, and experience a wide range of emotions due to increasing independence and responsibilities.
Cognitively, young adulthood is associated with critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities. At this stage, individuals typically pursue higher education, vocational training, or embark on their careers, all of which contribute to their intellectual growth and acquisition of knowledge. Furthermore, young adulthood is also characterized by exploration, self-discovery, forming intimate relationships, and establishing a place in society.
It is important to note that the boundaries of young adulthood can vary across cultures and individuals, and they are often influenced by social, cultural, and economic factors. Nonetheless, this period is generally regarded as a transitional phase where young individuals adapt to the challenges and responsibilities of adult life, explore their personal and professional aspirations, and lay the foundation for their future.
The word "young adulthood" does not have a distinct etymology as it is a combination of two separate words.
The word "young" is derived from the Old English word "geong", which has Germanic roots. "Geong" eventually developed into the Middle English word "yong" before reaching its modern form.
The word "adulthood", on the other hand, comes from the word "adult", which originated from the Latin word "adultus", meaning "grown up" or "mature". The Latin term "adultus" is the past participle of "adolēscere", which means "to grow" or "develop" in Latin.
When combining these two words, "young adulthood" is used to describe the period of life between adolescence and full maturity, when an individual is typically in their late teens or early twenties.