Adolescents’ Positive Expectations and Future Worries on their Transition to Adulthood

Abstract

Problem StatementAdolescence is seen as an important period for youth as they transition to adulthood. Required to manage multiple developmental tasks, adolescents might construct distorted expectations when thinking and planning their future. Therefore, it is important to determine the factors that influence adolescents’ positive and negative expectations in order to assist them with the appropriate services. Purpose of StudyThe aim of the current study is two-fold: (1) assessing the content and the extent of positive and negative expectations of adolescents from Romania on their pending transition to adulthood, and (2) exploring the hypothesis that personal variables (gender, residency, and material deprivation), psychological variables (self-confidence), and social support variables (family, peer and teacher support) predict their future expectations. MethodsEmpirical estimates were carried out using regression analysis on data collected from 3509 high school students in the 12th grade (2043 females and 1466 males). The self-report questionnaire covered several areas including demographics, psychological attributes, and family, school, and peer support. ResultsAdolescents perceived their future mostly in positive terms. The greatest effect for positive expectations belonged to self confidence and teacher support, while negative expectations were best predicted by lower teacher support, self confidence, and peer-support. Conclusions and RecommendationsThis research yields interesting results for the Romanian context. Interventions that prepare youth for transitioning from adolescence to adulthood should focus on constructing positive and realistic expectations utilizing a range of factors from the various systems that make up the ecological model (individual, family, school, and peer relationships). However, more prospective research is needed to determine how future expectations are shaped during this period.