Exploring Emerging Adulthood(s) in India

Abstract

The current study investigated emerging adulthood in India using a survey design (N = 342, M_age = 24.33 years) including the Inventory of Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (Reifman et al., 2007) and the Flourishing scale (Diener et al., 2010). Most participants endorsed the characteristics of emerging adulthood as representative of the current time of their life. Self-focus was the highest rated, followed by emerging adulthood being a time of possibilities, identity explorations, feeling-in-between, instability, and finally, other-focus. Latent Profile Analysis was applied to identify meaningful sub-groups based on similar characteristics and rating patterns. Four profiles were determined for IDEA: stall, moderate, transitional time/relational, and transitional time/self-focus. All profiles scored high on the Flourishing scale. A univariate analysis depicted that well-being levels were significantly different across the profiles. Findings were consistent with previous research and added unique insights indicative of sociocultural differences based on gender, socioeconomic class, and urban-rural locations.

Keywords

emerging adulthood India flourish culture South Asia

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