Early Adulthood in a Family Context Symposium

Penn State's 18th Annual Symposium on Family Issues
Co-organized in 2010 with the NCFMR
October 12-13, 2010

• Sessions, Speakers, and Discussants
• Early Adulthood in a Family Context-- Published by Springer
• Contributing Editors:
  • Alan Booth
  • Susan L. Brown, NCFMR Co-Director
  • Nancy S. Landale
  • Wendy D. Manning, NCFMR Co-Director
  • Susan M. McHale

Program Overview

Early adulthood (ages 18-24) is a period characterized by social-emotional, cognitive and physical development, evidenced in increasing autonomy from parents, financial independence, romantic relationship involvement, and transitions into parenthood. It is a critical life period because the timing and sequencing of these developments set the stage for later health and well-being as well as for future psychological development, achievement, and family and intimate relationship experiences. Young adults do not navigate emerging adulthood alone, and often require substantial support from their families of origin to successfully accomplish the many developmental tasks of this period. In addition, although family formation is increasingly delayed, some men and women marry or become parents early, and others form romantic relationships. The 2010 symposium will focus on the family contexts of early adulthood, emphasizing the importance of both the family of origin and new and highly variable types of family formation experiences that occur in early adulthood.

Not all young adults share the same pathways through young adulthood.  There is diversity in the trajectories of young adults, reflecting not only variation due to structural factors such as socioeconomic status, gender, and race/ethnicity, but also individual differences in social, cognitive and emotional development and adjustment which are shaped in part by early and ongoing family dynamics.  Families of origin are increasingly complex due to non-marital childbearing, divorce, cohabitation and remarriage as well as the health and well-being of their members. Young adults’ ability to draw on family resources varies according to the characteristics of their family of origin. Individual and group differences in the family supports available to young adults may be especially pronounced in the current time period, given the growth of income inequality over the last several decades and the severity of the current recession.

The 2010 symposium has two core goals that will showcase new theoretical, methodological, and measurement insights.

1. Advance understanding of the influence of the family of origin on young adults' lives--recognizing the increasing diversity and complexity of the family. Both family resources and constraints with respect to economic, social, and human capital will be considered, as will the nature and extent of young adults' responsibilities to their families of origin.

2. Build our knowledge about family formation and stability in early adulthood. Given delays in the timing of marriage for most young adults, the early adult years provide opportunities for a wide range of relationships. Empirical studies and theoretical developments, however, have not kept pace with the relationship and family experiences of young adults.

Along with its emphasis on the family contexts of early adulthood, the symposium will highlight two additional important themes: diversity in young adult development and the role of the broader economic climate.  Research will draw on comparisons within young adulthood as well as contrasting young adults to teens and older adults.

The symposium is supported annually by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and organizations at Penn State.