Transitions in emerging adulthood and stress among young Australian women.
BACKGROUND
Emerging adulthood involves major transitions in social roles and high levels of stress, which may affect later health.


OBJECTIVE
To examine cross-sectionally and longitudinally the relationships of stress to roles in four life domains-residential independence from family of origin, employment, relationships, and motherhood-among young adult women.


METHODS
8,749 young women participating in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health provided data at Survey 1, ages 18-23, and Survey 2, ages 22-27.


RESULTS
Contrary to expectation, major life transitions were associated with low and reducing levels of stress. Cross-sectionally, living independently, not being a student, being married, and being a mother were associated with the lowest stress. Normative transitions such as moving out of home, finding work, or motherhood were associated with no change in stress, while marrying was associated with a decrease in stress. Three types of transition were associated with increases in stress: non-normative transitions to more "adolescent" statuses, no transition, and transitions occurring earlier than normative.


CONCLUSIONS
High levels of stress at this age are associated with unusual changes, delays in changing, or changing earlier than one's peers. The normative transitions of young adulthood are not associated with high levels of stress.
Bell
Sandra
S
Research Centre for Gender and Health, University of Newcastle, Australia.
Lee
Christina
C
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007207:Individuation; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017533:Marital Status; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012380:Role; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult