Emerging Adulthood

The characteristics of Western societies pose significant challenges to how emerging adults view their futures. In the present study, we analyzed the associations between romantic attachment, self-regulation, and future expectations of emerging adults controlling the sex and age of participants. More specifically, we analyzed the moderating role of goal-setting, decision-making, and learning from mistakes (self-regulation dimensions) in the links between trustful, dependent, avoidant, and ambivalent romantic relationships and future expectations. The sample, collected by convenience in Portugal, includes 571 emerging adults (76.2% were female and 23.8% were male) aged between 18 and 30 years ( M = 23.31; SD = 3.35). Our results indicate significant associations between trust, dependent, avoidant, and ambivalent romantic relationships, with different dimensions of future expectations. Findings indicated that goal-setting moderates the association between dependent and avoidant romantic relationships and pessimism. We discuss these findings based on attachment theory, considering the relevance of emotional bonds and self-regulatory processes in future planning.

Joana Reis

Filipa Nunes

Paula Mena Matos

Catarina Pinheiro Mota

Romantic Attachment and Emerging Adults’ Future Expectations: Moderation Role of Self-Regulation

浪漫依恋与青年人的未来期望：自我调节的调节作用

Most research on social media use (SMU) and well-being employs a variable-centered approach within a single culture. This study aims to (1) identify SMU subgroups using multiple indicators (i.e., problematic SMU, SMU intensity, active SMU, passive SMU and nighttime SMU) among emerging adults; (2) examine the effects of different SMU patterns on social and mental well-being; and (3) explore cultural differences in SMU subgroups and well-being between China and Italy. Participants were 565 Chinese university students (370 females, M age = 19.54) and 425 Italian university students (308 females, M age = 22.03). Latent profile analysis identified four SMU profiles in the Chinese sample: Averaged (P1, n = 253, 44.8%), Overall Low with Passive Use (P2, n = 80, 14.2%), Overall High with Low Passive Use (P3, n = 98, 17.3%), and Average with High Intensity (P4, n = 134, 23.7%). P3 and P4 in the Chinese sample were found to have higher level of both social and mental well-being than P1 and P2. In the Italian sample, three profiles emerged: Averaged (P1, n = 175, 41.2%), Overall Low with Passive Use (P2, n = 82, 19.3%), and Overall High with Low Passive Use (P3, n = 168, 39.5%). P2 in the Italian sample had the lowest level of social well-being, whereas no significant difference was found on mental well-being across three Italian profiles. Profiles differences in well-being, as well as cultural commonalities and specificities, are discussed.

Shanyan Lin

Claudio Longobardi

Social Media Use Profiles and Well-Being: A Cross-Cultural Study Between Chinese and Italian Emerging Adults

社交媒体使用特征与幸福感：一项中国与意大利新兴成人间的跨文化研究

In an era marked by polarized political landscapes, understanding the mechanisms of political socialization among emerging adults in Minnesota provides critical insights into the formation of political identities. This study explores political socialization among young adults in Minnesota, focusing on the impact of family, peers, and personal experiences across diverse social positionalities (i.e., race/ethnicity). Utilizing thematic analysis of 41 interviews (M age = 21.8, 73.2% Female, 70.7% affiliated politically as Democrats), we identified key themes in political socialization for young adults in Minnesota, including familial transmission (i.e., from parent to child), trickle-up socialization, limited socialization and emphasis on values , reciprocal and selective peer socialization, and personalized political socialization processes. Highlighting the nuanced role of social positionality, the research underscores young adults’ active participation in shaping their political beliefs, suggesting the importance of inclusive and adaptable political engagement strategies to accommodate diverse experiences and perspectives in democratic participation.

Soyoul Song

Guanyu Wang

Michelle C. Pasco

Political Socialization Among Young Adults in Minnesota

明尼苏达州年轻成人的政治社会化

The purpose of this study is to analyze parenthood expectations (expected age to have a first child and number of children hoped for) in emerging adulthood, and how these expectations can be predicted by various sociodemographic factors. We draw on theoretical work on emerging adulthood, marital paradigms, and marital horizons theories in conceptualizing parenthood expectations, including one’s parenting horizon. Using a large, national sample of emerging adults in the U.S., we used a latent profile analysis to examine expectation groups. We also found that parenting salience, religiosity, and marital salience were the most consistent predictors of parenthood expectations. In addition, we also found that race and relationship status may also be important factors to consider when it comes to the parenthood expectations that emerging adults have. Our study expands our understating of how emerging adults conceptualize the salient transition to parenthood.

Carson R. Dover

Brian J. Willoughby

Planning for Parenthood: Using Sociodemographic Characteristics to Predict Expectations for the Timing and Number of Children Among Emerging Adults

育儿规划：利用社会人口学特征预测青年对生育时间和数量的期望

The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating effects of technology use for relationship maintenance on the longitudinal associations among self-isolation during COVID-19, depressive symptoms, and financial stress. Participants were 606 (53% female; M age = 20.36, SD = .99; 57% Caucasian) emerging adults. Data were collected in May 2020 (Time 1) and again in November 2020 (Time 2). Findings revealed that increases in self-isolation during COVID-19 related positively to technology use for relationship maintenance, Time 2 depressive symptoms, and Time 2 financial stress. High use of technology for relationship maintenance buffered against the negative effects of self-isolation during COVID-19 on emerging adults’ depressive symptoms and financial stress at Time 2, whereas lower use strengthened the positive relationship. These findings suggest the importance of considering the implications of societal crises or pandemics on emerging adults’ mental health and financial stress.

Michelle F. Wright

Sebastian Wachs

The Associations Among Self-Isolation During COVID-19, Depressive Symptoms, and Financial Stress: The Moderation of Technology Use for Relationship Maintenance

COVID-19期间自我隔离、抑郁症状与经济压力之间的关联：关系维护技术使用的调节作用

This study implemented a culturally sensitive approach to understanding self-concept clarity and relationship breakup distress reported by emerging adults in Argentina and the USA. Due to cultural tendencies involving individuality and interpersonal connections, we expected that country would moderate the association between self-concept clarity and breakup distress, with Argentinians showing a stronger inverse association between self-concept clarity and breakup distress compared to North Americans. In a sample of 270 emerging adults (160 from Argentina, 110 from the USA), we first evaluated measurement invariance then used a structural model to test breakup distress regressed on self-concept clarity. The major analyses controlled for six relationship breakup-related potential confounds. Contrary to expectations, results indicated that North Americans demonstrated a stronger negative relationship between self-concept clarity and breakup distress compared to Argentinians. Our findings highlight the importance of further cross-cultural research in understanding the complexities of self-concept clarity in diverse cultural contexts.

Fernán Arana

Kenneth G. Rice

Hannah Wetstone

Self-Concept Clarity and Romantic Breakup Distress in Argentina and the United States

自我概念清晰度与阿根廷和美国恋爱分手压力

Short-form video applications, such as TikTok, have gained significant popularity among emerging adults. We conducted a longitudinal study to gather data at three time points from two universities in South China. A total of 590 university students ( M age = 19.83; SD age = 1.24) completed the questionnaires measuring active and passive TikTok use behaviors at time 1 (T1, April 2022), self-concept clarity at time 2 (T2, October 2022), and anxiety both at Time 1 (T1, April 2022) and at Time 3 (T3, April 2023). The results showed that T1 active TikTok use had a negative correlation with T3 anxiety ( r = −0.23, p &lt; .001), while T1 passive TikTok use had a positive correlation with T3 anxiety ( r = 0.30, p &lt; .001). Both T1 active TikTok use (95% CI [0.03, 0.09]) and T1 passive TikTok use (95% CI [0.07, 0.16]) can predict T3 anxiety indirectly by reducing T2 self-concept clarity. Moreover, even after considering T2 self-concept clarity, the direct impact of T1 active TikTok use on T3 anxiety remained significant (95% CI [−0.24, −0.09]), but the direct effect of T1 passive TikTok use on T3 anxiety was not significant (95% CI [−0.04, 0.12]).

Qingqi Liu

Jiani Wen

Ningxi Wang

Manjun Wang

Longitudinal Associations Between TikTok Use, Self-Concept Clarity, and Anxiety Among Chinese Emerging Adults: Exploring Differential Impacts of Active and Passive TikTok Use

中国新兴成年人中TikTok使用、自我概念清晰度与焦虑的纵向关联：探索主动与被动TikTok使用的差异性影响

Abbreviation	Emerg. Adulthood
Journal Impact	2.69
Quartiles(Global)	PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL(Q2)

ISSN	2167-6968, 2167-6984
h-index	42

Publication Information	Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd，Publishing cycle: ，Journal Type: journal，Open Access Journals: No
Basic data	Year of publication: 2013，Proportion of original research papers: 96.88%，Self Citation Rate:11.50%， Gold OA Rate: 19.05%

Emerging Adulthood

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Romantic Attachment and Emerging Adults’ Future Expectations: Moderation Role of Self-Regulation

Social Media Use Profiles and Well-Being: A Cross-Cultural Study Between Chinese and Italian Emerging Adults

Political Socialization Among Young Adults in Minnesota

Planning for Parenthood: Using Sociodemographic Characteristics to Predict Expectations for the Timing and Number of Children Among Emerging Adults

The Associations Among Self-Isolation During COVID-19, Depressive Symptoms, and Financial Stress: The Moderation of Technology Use for Relationship Maintenance

Planning for Parenthood: Using Sociodemographic Characteristics to Predict Expectations for the Timing and Number of Children Among Emerging Adults

Political Socialization Among Young Adults in Minnesota

Social Media Use Profiles and Well-Being: A Cross-Cultural Study Between Chinese and Italian Emerging Adults

Self-Concept Clarity and Romantic Breakup Distress in Argentina and the United States

Longitudinal Associations Between TikTok Use, Self-Concept Clarity, and Anxiety Among Chinese Emerging Adults: Exploring Differential Impacts of Active and Passive TikTok Use