The topics of psychology regarding the maturation of individuals and the connection between their environment and their mental state during development have long been of interest to numerous scholars. While some scholars have focused on mental well-being during the pubescent period, others have concentrated their efforts on adulthood and its significant differences from other stages of life. In this sense, for example, psychologist Jeffrey Jensen Arnett established a new concept in the field of psychology, namely emerging adulthood. In turn, other psychologists have made discoveries in pubescent studies, indicating that early puberty is associated with an increased probability of mental health issues. Therefore, adulthood and puberty psychology concepts provide applications to real life, prompting a shift in young mental health issue perceptions.
First, it is vital to analyze the work of Jeffrey Jensen Arnett. According to Arnett (2000), with an emphasis on the ages of 18 to 25, emerging adulthood is presented as a novel vision of growth for the time from late adolescence through the mid-twenties. While acknowledging the variability of the timeframe and exploring this variability as one of emerging adulthood’s distinctive traits, researchers might define this phenomenon as a time when transformation and discovery are frequent (Arnett, 2000).
However, in the given century, it is rational to consider emerging adulthood valid for several reasons. First, the young generations today are different from previous generations, necessitating rethinking in this field. It is no more typical for late adolescence and early twenties to be a period of integrating and transitioning into long-term adult duties, as marriage and parenthood are often postponed until the mid-to-late-20s for most individuals (Arnett, 2000). Instead, these years tend to be a time of constant change and inquiry.
Furthermore, the three primary focuses that differ between young adolescence and older adults include love, work, and worldviews. In all three of these domains, identity development entails experimenting with numerous life options and progressively advancing toward making lasting selections (Arnett, 2000). This process starts in adolescence but is most prevalent in emerging adulthood. The investigation of love deepens and becomes more meaningful in adulthood. Job experiences in emerging adulthood become increasingly geared toward preparing for mature work positions (Arnett, 2000). Similar issues are explored in the educational decisions and realities of emerging adults. They experiment with many options in their educational pathways in order to get ready for possible future jobs (Arnett, 2000). As a result, considering the difference between emerging adults from young adolescents and old adults, such an approach in psychology is rational.
As for the findings about pubertal development, these include findings about the connection between early puberty and mental health issues. Pubertal development is a time of transition characterized by a quick and significant shift in almost every aspect of life (Winer et al., 2016). In this sense, the first finding is that early pubertal time in females is linked to subclinical anxiety disorder issues, stress, and depressive symptoms. For males, early pubertal arrival was formerly thought to be favorable, but more recent research shows that, similarly to females, early pubertal development is linked to increased stress and depressive symptoms (Winer et al., 2016). As a result, the timeframe of puberty is critical for mental well-being.
Moreover, the findings showed that pubertal timing was unrelated to sadness and anxiety. Instead, relative to other combinations of pubescent time and peer difficulties, earlier pubescent timing and greater peer rejection were connected to the greatest levels of both depression and anxiety symptoms (Winer et al., 2016). This is in line with the situational intensification concept. The results show that the relationship between mental health issues and early pubertal time depends on the social environment, particularly two settings that have been highlighted as exceptionally important for young people—family and peers (Winer et al., 2016). Therefore, early pubertal development in both situations worsens anxiety and depression.
Lastly, it was found that the relationship between strict parental involvement and pubescent timing is often overlooked. Yet, harsh parenting has been linked to children internalizing and externalizing problems and early pubescent onset. Authoritarian parenting increased depression symptoms in Hispanic girls who experienced puberty at an untimely age (Winer et al., 2016). Similarly, there is a relationship between abuse, including neglect, physical violence, and sexual assault, which encompasses but is not restricted to strict parenting, and pubertal timing affects depressive symptoms (Winer et al., 2016).
Finally, it was discovered that parental alienation and early pubertal onset were linked to greater levels of symptoms of depression in both males and females (Winer et al., 2016). Once internalizing symptoms had been the result, it was discovered that early pubertal timing and increased rates of a father’s psychological control were connected with more depressive and anxiety episodes for girls but fewer of these issues for boys, particularly in comparison to teenagers with fathers who displayed lower psychological command.
Hence, concepts within maturity and puberty psychology have practical implications that change how mental health issues and age categories must be perceived. First, it is reasonable to see emerging adulthood as legitimate in the current century for a number of reasons. While the young generation today is different from previous generations, their priorities and interests differ from those of young adolescents and old adults, which necessitates putting them in another category. As for puberty and mental health connections, the findings showed that early puberty leads to an increased probability of mental health issues. Moreover, such problems are exacerbated by peer pressure and alienation. In turn, strict parenting and abuse lead to not only anxiety but depression during puberty onset.
References
Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55(5), 469–480. Web.
Winer, J. P., Parent, J., Forehand, R., & Breslend, N. L. (2016). Interactive effects of psychosocial stress and early pubertal timing on youth depression and anxiety: Contextual amplification in family and peer environments. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(5), 1375-1384. Web.