Crises of later adolescence and early adult life.

Abstract

The records of two hundred and twenty patients aged 16 to 25 who were seen during the years 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968 reveal that those aged 20 to 21 were most frequently seen, and there was almost equal distribution as to sex. The crisis situation in each case was defined and classified with the following major categories emerging: 1) difficulty in separating from original home and parents, 2) difficulty in attaining, keeping or tolerating a courting partner, a mate, a pregnancy or children, 3) difficulty in working at any job or as a student, 4) difficulty in establishing an identity, 5) difficulty in handling loss, hostility or gross rejection. The largest group was made up of those having difficulties with respect to a courting partner and establishing a satisfying relationship with a mate. There was a very high proportion of females within this group. Repeatedly, the need to influence parents became obvious, crossing over many of the categories and underscoring the desirability of more meaningful family life and interaction.