title: Brief report: Danish emerging adults' conceptions of adulthood.
abstract: Four hundred Danish emerging adults ages 17-29 were surveyed regarding their conceptions of adulthood and their self-assessments of their adult status. A majority of the 17-24-year-olds and nearly half the 25-29-year-olds viewed themselves as being adults in some ways but not others. Participants reported feeling most adult when with co-workers or romantic partners, and least adult with mothers, fathers, or friends. The most widely-endorsed criteria for adulthood were accepting responsibility for one's self, making independent decisions, and becoming financially independent. Among the least-endorsed criteria were the traditional transition events of entering marriage and parenthood, as well as "avoid becoming drunk."
authors.affiliation: Clark University, United States. Electronic address: arnett@jeffreyarnett.com.
authors.forename: Jeffrey Jensen
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Arnett
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, United States.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Padilla-Walker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Conceptions of adulthood; Emerging adulthood; Northern Europe; Scandinavia; Transition to adulthood; Young adulthood