Percepções de adultez emergente e indicadores de saúde mental entre jovens brasileiros

Abstract

Emerging adulthood (EA), the period between adolescence and young adulthood, is proposed as a distinct developmental phase characterized by the postponement of adult commitments and the experimentation of possibilities, exploration of different roles and experience of ambivalence and instability. Socioeconomics and cultural differences have been associated with high heterogeneity, both in objective milestones and in the perception of young people about the phase, which is also marked by contrasting evidence of psychosocial adjustment and maladjustment. Previous studies have verified that the existence of EA perception profiles is associated with demographic differences and psychopathological symptoms, but none were conducted in the Brazilian context. The present study aimed to evaluate the perceptions of Brazilian youngsters about EA, how these perceptions group into different profiles and are can be associated with socio-demographic and psychological characteristics (cognitive triad beliefs and mental health indicators). Two exploratory and quantitative studies were conducted. In both investigations the participants completed questionnaires and self-report instruments. In the cross-sectional study, 563 youngsters aged between 18 and 29 years (M= 22.5; SD= 3.0) gave information on socioeconomic and demographic conditions, perception of EA, internalizing symptoms, suicidal ideation and positive orientation. The EA perception profiles were found via latent profile analysis, conducted along with correlation analyses and between groups comparisons. In the second work, a longitudinal study, 34 participants (18 to 21 years old; M= 18.6; SD= 1.4) were evaluated when teenagers and reevaluated six years later focusing on verifying the relations between perceptions about EA and central beliefs (positive and negative cognitive triad). It was verified that the majority of the youngsters identifies themselves significantly with the characteristics of the EA, being "Ambivalence" and "Identity Exploration" the dimensions that best differentiated the participants. The postponement of adult roles, especially matrimony and having children; a higher perception of EA among university students and participants with higher socioeconomic status were also verified in the sample. The indicators of mental illness were associated with specific dimensions of EA, but no differences were found in the intensity of the symptoms between the profiles. The perception of the phase as marked by negativity and instability was associated with greater intensity of symptoms, suicidal ideation and the current negative cognitive triad. Also, positive views of the future in adolescence were associated with greater "identity exploration" and "experimentation of possibilities" at EA. Potential biases of the study might have been the predominance of undergraduate and graduated participants, allied with better socioeconomic status in the samples. It is suggested to future studies to include participants with lower educational level and socioeconomic conditions. Moreover it will be valid to evaluate the interaction between the perception of AE and individual, family and social variables. Longitudinal studies with more than one follow up, larger and more representative samples would enhance our knowledge on EA’s pathways, perceptions and outcomes.