Risky Behaviors and Emerging Adulthood

Now that I’ve discussed the need for the emerging adulthood stage, and shared with you that three of my five siblings are emerging adults it’s time to address some of the risky behaviors that are associated with this stage of development. Remember that an emerging adult is typically 18 to 25 years old and feels as though they are no longer adolescents, but not yet adults. Arnett (2005) proposed that:

Emerging adulthood is characterized by five main features: it is the age of identity explorations, especially in love and work; it is the age of instability; it is the most self-focused age of life; it is the age of feeling in-between, in transition, neither adolescent nor adult; and it is the age of possibilities, when hopes flourish, when people have an unparalleled opportunity to transform their lives. (p. 239)

The risky behaviors associated with emerging adulthood can be explained when you consider the features of emerging adulthood outline above, while also taking into consideration the increased freedom and a lack of adult responsibilities that coincide with this time in the lifespan.

Arnett (2005), Jackson & White (2008), and Bradely and Tesee (2008) all label emerging adulthood as the age period when drug use is it’s highest. Jackson & White (2008) suggest, “moving out of the constraints of high school and away from parents makes emerging adulthood a stage of the life cycle in which people are at high risk for heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems” (p. 189). Jackson & White (2008) reported that: (as cited from Backman et al. 1997)

“Among people ages 21-22, 85 percent of men and 76 percent of women have used alcohol within the last 30 days. 55 percent of men ages 21-22 and 33 percent of women ages 19-20 drank five or more drinks in a row in the past 2 weeks. People ages 18-29 have the highest rates of past-year alcohol abuse and dependence” (p. 183).

These are serious statistics that should not be taken lightly. Not only is excessive drinking bad for your body, it can also lead to more serious risky behaviors. Alcohol abuse and dependency must be taken more seriously. Substance abuse and dependence are not the only risks associated with emerging adulthood.

Bradely & Teese (2008) conducted a study examining three types of reckless behaviors in emerging adulthood; reckless substance abuse, reckless driving, and reckless sexual behavior. They measured how much each reckless behavior was influenced by impulsivity and peer pressure (in addition to perceived risks and perceived benefits). All of the predictors were found to impact reckless behaviors in emerging adulthood. Bradely & Teese (2008) found that impulsivity was the strongest predictor of sexual recklessness, and that peer pressure was the strongest predictor of substance use in addition to predicting total recklessness (p. 120-121).

I can’t help but think that the risky behaviors associated with emerging adulthood sound similar to experiences of adolescence, only with a greater magnitude. It is no wonder, that adolescence precedes emerging adulthood. Arnett (2005) summarizes the importance of understanding the emerging adult years as a separate period of the life course “rather than as simply late adolescence or the transition to adulthood” so that we are lead to consider what is “going on developmentally during this time rather than simply focusing on the timing of transition evens such as marriage” (p. 248). When it comes to the risky behaviors and dangers associated with emerging adulthood it is especially important to look deeply at the developmental characteristics that influence individuals during this time. I believe that with self-awareness and regulation, anyone can survive these dangers. I’m living proof. What about you?