Physical development in early adulthood
Age ranged
Early adulthood
Cutoffs are broad
For our purposes, 18-40 years old
Emerging adulthood 18-29
Established adulthood 30-45ish
What are some of the big things that often happen in this age range?
Biological aging
Multidimensional and multidirectional
Gains and losses can be different for individuals depending on various factors
Peaks physicality in early 20s
Influences
Genetics
Lifestyle
Environment
Historical period
Average life expectancy increased 25-30 years during the twentieth century
Aging at the level of DNA and body cells
Two types of aging at this level
1 programmed effects of specific genes “biological clock”
Aging genes- cell repair, immune system function, hormone production
Telomere shortening
2 cumulative effects of random events “wear and tear”
Spontaneous mutations and cancer
Some genetic disposition to longevity but low to moderate- effect probably indirect
Rather than inheriting longevity directly, people probably inherent risk and protective factors, which influence their chances of dying earlier or later
Telomere: DNA at the ends of chromosomes
Safeguard the stability of cells
Shorten with each cell duplication
Below critical length: no longer divide, become senescent
Life circumstances hasten shortening: chronic illness or stress, unhealthy behaviors
Telomerase prevents and even reverses shortening
Positive lifestyle changes prompt gains in telomerase
Telomeres changeable well into early adulthood
Aging at the level of tissues and organs
Cross linkage theory: tissue becomes less elastic
Overtime, protein fibers that make up the bodys connective tissue form bonds, or links, with one another
When these separate fibers cross link, tissue becomes elastic, leadoing to gradual declines in organ function, skin flexibility, and overall bodily resilience
Gradual failure of endocrine system
Example: decrease in growth hormone levels is associated with loss of muscle and bone mass, addition of body fat
Motor performance
Upper biological limit of motor performance is reached in first part of early adulthood
Athletic tasks that
Require speed, explosive strength and gross motor coordination peak in early 20s
Require endurance, steadiness, aiming fine motor coordination peak in late 20s early 30s
With sustained training decline is gradual until sixties
Body structures adapt, minimizing declines
Slows muscle loss, retains vital capacity, increases speed
Reproductive capacity
Ideal during twenties, declines with age
Fertility risks for women
Problems jump sharply at 35-44 years
Reduced number, quality of ova
Fertility risks for men
Problems gradual, starting at age 35
Decreased sperm volume, motility
Increased percentage of abnormal sperm
Reproductive technologies
Variations in health
Compared with many other industrialized nations, US has higher death rates for all causes in early adulthood
SES disparities in health and mortality reflect
Income, education, occupational status
Health related habits
Poor health in childhood, child ses
Substance use in early adulthood
Substance use more common in 19-25 year olds than younger or older
Tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol- more commonly abused substances
Other behaviors that increase
Binge drinking
Driving under the influence
Use of prescription and party drugs
Mental illness and substance use disorders in america in the past year among adults aged 18+
Among those with a substance use disorder
4 in 9 struggled with illicit drugs
7 in 10 struggled with alcohol use
2 in 13 struggled with illicit drugs and alcohol
15.4% (38.7 MILLION)
People aged 18 or older had a substance use disorder (SUD)
6.7 (17.0 million) people 18 or older had both an SUD and a mental illness
Among those with a mental illness 1 in 4 (26.9% or 14.2 million) had a serious mental illness
21% (52.9 million) People aged 18 or older had a mental illness
College drinking
Increased rates of binge drinking compared to peers
Binge drinking is defined as drinking four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men within approximately two hours
More likely to face alcohol related consequences but less likely to show functional impairment (inability to perform daily activities due to drinking)
Lower participation in treatment
Living with parents may be protective
Alcohol abuse in Early Adulthood
Tobacco and Marijuana use
Cigarette smoking slowly declining
Few treatments last long enough to be effective
Increase among adults not finishing high school, especially women
Quitting smoking
Hard to stop
Few treatments last long enough to be effective
Counseling needed to teach skills for avoiding relapse
Preventive efforts and education must
Reach adolescents and young adults
Convey negative health effects of other smoking forms
(eg marijuana, despite legalization, results in dependency and problematic withdrawal symptoms
Discussion
Do you think sexual/dating behavior among young adults has changed since the advent of dating apps?
Cognitive development in Early adulthood
Pruning of synapses, growth and myelination of stimulated neural fibers
Fine tuning of prefrontal cognitive control network
Better balance with emotional social network
Planning, reasoning, decision, making improve
Cognitive changes in early adulthood
Piaget- remember piaget did not theorize past adolescence
However, neo piagetians theorize postformal thought (greater complexity in thinking)
William perry
Epistemic cognition: reflections on how we arrive at facts, beliefs and ideals
Considering the justifiability of conclusions and revising as needed
Gisela Labouvie- Vief
Pragmatic thought
Cognitive-affective complexity
William G Perry’s epistemic cognition
Forms of intellectual and ethical development in the college years: A scheme. Jossey
Development of Epistemic Cognition
1 dualistic thinking (absolutist thinking)
Knowledge is absolute- things are right or wrong black or white
Authorities (teachers, parents) have the answers, students believe in one correct truth
Example: A student believes there is only one right answer to a moral or scientific problem
Common in early college students
Relativistic
thinking (Subjective thinking)
Knowledge is context dependent- what is true depends on perspective, situation or culture
Multiple viewpoints exist, but all seem equally valid leads to intellectual flexibility but also potential indecision
Example: A student studying ethics realizes that moral values differ across cultures and there is no single “correct” answer
Develops as students encounter diverse perspectives in college
3 Commitment within relativistic thinking (Reflective judgement)
Knowledge is uncertain, but individuals can commit to a well-reasoned perceptive based on evidence and logic
Students evaluate different viewpoints, justify beliefs and refine ideas over time
Example: A student recognizes multiple political viewpoints but, after deep reflection , commits to a well supported stance while remaining open to further learning
Typically seen in more advanced students or lifelong learners
Pragmatic thought (Gisela Labouvie-Vief
Move from hypothetical (Piaget) to pragmatic thought
Pragmatic thought: structural advance in which logic becomes a tool for solving real-world problems
Increased experience with real-world problems
Becoming aware of constraints of everyday life
New ways of thinking that thrive on imperfection and compromise
Shifting form idealistic (black and white) thinking too practical, adaptive decision making
“ I want a career that is fulfilling and aligns perfectly with my passions”(college)
“I want a career that balances my interests, financial stability and work life balance. I may not love every aspect of it, but i needs to be sustainable” (Post college)
Mature thinkers integrate logical reasoning with emotional awareness, leading to more nuanced, balanced decisions making in adulthood
Awareness of conflicting thoughts and emotions
Recognizing that emotions can coexist with logical reasoning
Example feeling both excited and nervous