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

3. Objectives
Describe events that commonly occur during the transitional stage of young adulthood.
Analyze the physical development of young adults ages 20 through 39.
Analyze the cognitive development of young adults ages 20 through 39.
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4. Objectives
Analyze the socio-emotional development of young adults ages 20 through 39.
Summarize how young adults form attachments and establish committed relationships.
Identify special needs that people may develop or acquire during early adulthood.

5. 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
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6. 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
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7. 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

8. In the United States, at what age does the law often treat teens as adults?
18 years of age
What does the term social clock mean? List two common social clock expectations.
cultural expectations of when major life milestones should occur (Examples will vary, but may include:) completing an education, living on their own, establishing a career, marrying, having children
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9. Give an example of how young adults may test living situations.
List three postsecondary options often available after the completion of high school.
(Answers will vary, but may include:) attending a college or university, pursuing a career option, joining the military, traveling abroad
Give an example of how young adults may test living situations.
(Examples will vary, but may include:) staying in college dorms, renting an apartment, having a roommate, buying a house

10. 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
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11. 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
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12. 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
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13. 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
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14. 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
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15. 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
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16. 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
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17. 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

18. Which nutrient needs increase during young adulthood?
Describe common physical qualities and capabilities that can be expected in young adulthood.
(Answers will vary, but should reflect an understanding of text pages 242–243.)
Which nutrient needs increase during young adulthood?
calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, vitamin D, and the B vitamins
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19. List four factors that can contribute to insomnia.
(Answers will vary, but may include the following:) stress; anxiety; depression; caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol; medications; medical conditions; change in work schedule; irregular sleep schedules or uncomfortable sleep environment
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20. How can young adults make healthful lifestyle choices to act as preventive health measures for the future?
by maintaining regular sleep, eating, and physical activity habits; by maintaining oral care and hygiene; and by monitoring lifestyle choices, such as avoiding high-risk behaviors
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21. Define the terms binge drinking and alcoholism.
Binge drinking is the heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time. Alcoholism is the addiction to alcohol.
What types of resources are available to help alcoholics?
support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous; hotlines, pamphlets, and therapy sessions; intervention programs such as rehabilitation

22. 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
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23. 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
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24. 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
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25. 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
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26. 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

27. What is the difference between fluid and crystallized intelligence?
Fluid intelligence contains abstract reasoning, while crystallized intelligence includes the judgment, knowledge, and skills needed in life and work.
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28. How do young adult cognitive skills differ from adolescent cognitive skills?
Adults are better at dealing with complex questions; more readily accept the reality of seemingly “fuzzy” problems; understand that a solution may be appropriate in one context, but inappropriate in another; and tend to be less concerned with finding the one right answer and more concerned with practical results.
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29. Define postformal stage.
stage of development occurring after adolescence in which adults are better able to deal with complex questions they may never fully answer
What are the two types of communication?
verbal and nonverbal
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30. What is Kohlberg’s final stage of moral development
What is Kohlberg’s final stage of moral development? How does this moral stage differ from earlier stages?
postconventional morality, it is less egocentric than the earlier stages

31. 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
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32. 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
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33. 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
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34. 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
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35. 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
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36. 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
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37. 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
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38. 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
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©Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

39. 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
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40. 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
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41. 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
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42. 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
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43. 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
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44. 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

45. What is the primary socio-emotional task of early adulthood?
Define social clock.
cultural expectations of when major life milestones should occur
What is the primary socio-emotional task of early adulthood?
intimacy versus isolation
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46. How do relationships with parents change in early adulthood?
Young adults tend to get along better with their parents than they did as adolescents. Parents are a source of emotional and often financial support as young adults begin to establish financial independence.
Name the different kinds of love.
friendly, affectionate, romantic, and consummate
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47. What is the most important function of parenting?
List five important topics couples discuss to help determine marriage readiness.
finances, career paths, living situation, the decision to parent, and family expansion
What is the most important function of parenting?
meeting the children’s needs
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48. What are some of the pressures young adults feel from cultural influences?
which postsecondary option to choose, how to manage personal relationships, and when to have children

49. 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

50. Describe characteristics of bipolar disorder.
manic phases including high energy, irritability, and impulsive behavior; also depressive phases including fatigue, loss of interest in favored activities, and changes in eating or sleeping
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51. What is PTSD? What are some of the effects of PTSD?
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that results when an individual experiences a dangerous, horrific situation. Feelings of anxiety, anger, and fear, as well as difficulty sleeping, nightmares, tenseness, or feeling a loss of emotions are common effects.
What are mental health adult living facilities?
facilities that offer a transition from home and assistance and supervision with daily living