Developmental Trajectories and Health Outcomes Among Emerging Adult Women and Men

Abstract

With a recent sample of emerging adults, the present longitudinal study examines multiple role trajectories that emerging adult women and men in the United States tend to traverse between the ages of 18 and 25, thereby partially replicating and furthering the work of Amato et al. Furthermore, the present study examines the physical and mental health of emerging adults in various trajectories. Findings revealed three trajectories for emerging adult women, including (1) work and school to some family formation (56.2% of women), (2) school to family formation (11.5% of women), and (3) some school to early family formation (32.3% of women). Women who transitioned from (3) some school to early family formation were more psychologically distressed than those who transitioned from (1) work and school to some family formation. Women who transitioned from (3) some school to early family formation also experienced significant declines in physical health. For emerging adult men, findings revealed three trajectories, including (1) work and early family formation (9.4% of men), (2) school to family formation (32.1% of men), and (3) school to work (58.5% of men). Men in the (2) school to family formation trajectory experienced less psychological distress over time. These findings point to certain trajectories that might be particularly beneficial for emerging adults’ physical and psychological health.