1. Early Adulthood: Ages 20 through 3910
Early Adulthood: Ages 20 through 39

2. Becoming an Adult
In the U.S., the law often treats teens as adults when they become 18 years of age
The transition from teen to independent adult varies for everyone
Social expectations of adulthood vary by culture and are often tied to social clock expectations
Social clock: the cultural expectations of when major life milestones should occur.
continued

3. Becoming an Adult
There comes a time when young adults must claim responsibility for their own well-being
As people transition out of high school, they often become more responsible for making decisions that can affect their lifestyle for years to come
continued

4. Becoming an Adult
Early adulthood is often a time of experimentation and new emotions
In many cultures, leaving the family
home is a mark of independence and adulthood
As young adults establish their self-dependence, living situations often change

5. Physical Qualities and Changes
During young adulthood, adults no longer grow physically
Young adults are in better physical
condition than middle age or older adults
By the age of 30, physical abilities often start to decline and weight gain is common
continued

6. Physical Qualities and Changes
Young adulthood is the time for strong physical performance
Part of the peak performance of this stage relates to skeletal maturity
After the age of 30, physical performance and athletic ability begin to decline
continued

7. Physical Qualities and Changes
Reducing food intake from the amounts consumed during adolescence is often necessary to avoid unhealthy weight gains
Nutrient-dense food choices are important
©Tischenko Inna/Shutterstock.com
continued

8. Physical Qualities and Changes
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend adults participate in 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week
Aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities are important for maintaining physical health
continued

9. Physical Qualities and Changes
On average, adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night
The body needs sleep to relax and revitalize
During early adulthood, people may experience insomnia
Getting the necessary hours of sleep each night is important to maintaining health
continued

10. Physical Qualities and Changes
Medical and dental exams continue to be important during early adulthood
Family medical history is important to review with the doctor
Healthful lifestyle choices during early adulthood can act as preventive health measures for the future
continued

11. Physical Qualities and Changes
Experimentation with alcohol is often more prevalent for young adults
Binge drinking is especially common during the transitional years and can lead to alcoholism
Alcohol is a toxin and impairs the body’s ability to physically and mentally function
continued

12. Physical Qualities and Changes
Alcoholism affects physical health, personal relationships, and work performance
Support groups, hotlines, and therapy sessions can help a person struggling with an addiction
For others, programs such as rehabilitation may be a necessary intervention

13. Signs of Cognitive Change
Fluid intelligence, the ability to reason abstractly, is at a peak in young adulthood
Crystallized intelligence is the focus of much of this stage
Many inventions, social movements, and new ways of approaching life have come from young adults
continued

14. Signs of Cognitive Change
Piaget’s final stage of cognitive development, or formal operations, emerges in adolescence and continues throughout adulthood
Some researchers have proposed that much cognitive development happens after adolescence, which they have termed the postformal stage
continued

15. Signs of Cognitive Change
The prefrontal cortex of the brain, which regulates emotions and impulse control, is not fully developed until about age 26
After this age, young adults rely less on emotions in their cognitive reasoning
They are able to think deeply and more realistically about many issues
continued

16. Signs of Cognitive Change
A transition occurs in communication style from adolescence to early adulthood
In adulthood, the expectations for professional conversation and written skills can be a very big change
In addition to written language, verbal and nonverbal skills are important
continued

17. Signs of Cognitive Change
Kohlberg’s final stage of moral development is postconventional morality
During this stage, adults begin to care about the community, environment, and society
Values and ethics become factors in making decisions
This moral stage is less egocentric and, therefore, differs from earlier stages

18. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
Young adults are establishing their identity, making decisions, and taking responsibility for themselves and others
Erikson captured early adulthood as the stage when faced with making social decisions
He referred to this as the intimacy versus isolation phase
continued

19. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
Intimacy refers to the self-disclosure and sharing of private thoughts and emotions
During the transition to adulthood, young adults alter their relationships with family members
Sibling relationships also change as people enter adulthood
continued

20. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
Friendships are an important aspect of young adulthood
Friendships in early adulthood differ from earlier stages in life
In addition to changing relationships, entirely new friendships form from new environments
continued

21. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
Intimacy can occur in friendships, family relationships, and romantic relationships
When forming new relationships, intimacy gradually develops as trust is established
Developing trusting and intimate relationships is a key task during early adulthood
continued

22. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
Young adults who show a secure attachment style perceive relationships positively
Some young adults exhibit an avoidant attachment style
Others show an anxious attachment style
continued

23. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
There are many different types of love people experience in relationships
Friendly love is care and consideration for another
Affectionate love involves romantic ways of expressing love for each other, which are not necessarily sexual
continued

24. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
Romantic love creates feelings of security and care and appreciation for each other
Consummate love is the combination of affectionate love and a desire to commit to the relationship
Love differs from infatuation
continued

25. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
There are important topics to discuss to determine marriage readiness
Finances
Career paths
Living situation
Decision to parent
Family expansion
continued
©Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

26. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
Early in marriage, partners often have to adjust to new lifestyle changes
All relationships experience conflict, which is a healthy, normal part of relationships
When making decisions or arguing, spouses need to learn to compromise
continued

27. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
Choosing to become a parent is a permanent decision that requires careful consideration
Parenting carries with it certain roles and responsibilities
Parents often have unconditional love for their children
continued

28. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
The ability to meet some of a child’s needs is related to the family’s financial ability
To meet the physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional needs of children, parents make personal sacrifices and adjustments
Children can offer tremendous, unique rewards
continued

29. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
When conflicts arise, open communication can help resolve an issue and relieve tension and stress
Sometimes, even with counseling and effort from both partners, the relationship is still dysfunctional
continued

30. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
Breakups, separation, and divorce can feel tragic to those involved
Children especially feel the impact of divorce
About half of divorced adults remarry
Stepfamilies present their own challenges in family relationships
continued

31. Signs of Socio-emotional Change
Individuals in early adulthood face many cultural influences and expectations
Family members and culture may influence young adults’ postsecondary decisions
Individuals may deviate from expected timelines or choose not to follow expectations
One rising trend in U.S. culture is singlehood

32. Special Needs
For some people, special needs are acquired or discovered in early adulthood
One disorder detected in the latter teen years or early adulthood is bipolar disorder
One disorder that can be acquired in early adulthood is post traumatic stress disorder
Adults with severe cognitive disorders may need frequent help from caregivers