Work

The implications of adult identity for educational and work attainment in young adulthood.

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigates the relation of young adult identities (ages 18-22 years), reflecting subjective age and psychosocial maturity, to educational and career attainment in young adulthood (ages 25-29 years). Add Health data show that having an older subjective age alone does not curtail attainment; the critical issue is the level of psychosocial maturity that accompanies subjective age. Those with older subjective ages and low psychosocial maturation have the lowest attainment at ages 25-29 years, while those with older subjective ages and high psychosocial maturation show considerable progress toward work-related attainment. For those with younger subjective ages, a lower level of psychosocial maturity is not as detrimental to attainment.

Source: Developmental Psychology

DOI: 10.1037/a0026364

Authors: Janel E. Benson, Monica Kirkpatrick Johnson, Glen H. Elder

Institutions: Colgate University, Washington State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Language: English

Topic: Youth Education and Societal Dynamics

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Awards: Carolina Population Center, G1789099407, The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health