Comparison of characteristics of emerging adulthood and early adulthood using the Inventory of the dimensions of emerging adulthood (IDEA)

Maja Jotić, Petra Mikolič

 Full article (pdf)  |   Written in Slovene  |  Published: 15. september 2018

Abstract

This research compares characteristics of emerging adulthood with characteristics of early adulthood. We compared the two stages of psychological development by six dimensions (instability, identity exploration, experimentation/possibilities, self-focus, other-focus and feeling in-between) using the IDEA. Additionally, we compared the individuals in emerging adulthood by gender. Participants in emerging adulthood show higher levels of instability, identity exploration, experimentation/possibilities, self-focus and feeling in-between compared to young adults, however, the difference in self-focus is not statistically significant. As expected, dimension of other-focus increases by age. Finally, the results show gender differences (women scored higher levels of identity exploration, other-focus and feeling in-between), although the differences may partly be the outcome of uneven gender distribution.

Keywords

IDEA, emerging adulthood, early adulthood, Arnett

Cite

Jotič, M. & Mikolič, P. (2018). Primerjava značilnosti obdobij prehoda v odraslost in zgodnje odraslosti s pomočjo vprašalnika o dimenzijah na prehodu v odraslost (IDEA) [Comparison of characteristics of emerging adulthood and early adulthood using the Inventory of the dimensions of emerging adulthood (IDEA)]. Eksperimentator, 2, 9–14.