Young and Emerging Adults
The term “young adult” can refer to anyone in their teens or early 20s. Generally, a young adult is someone in the years following adolescence, though different definitions of this age classification exist and vary in scope. Two common age ranges considered to define “young adulthood” are 18 to 22 and 18 to 25 years old. “Emerging adulthood” is another general term for the period of life between the ages of 18 and 29 and is usually defined by certain transitional events, like leaving home, finishing education, and finding employment. Referring to people by their age group or generation (people in their 20s, Generation Z, etc.) is one way to be more specific when discussing or referring to young and emerging adults. Because there are many terms for age and life stage, terminology is a matter of individual preference and should be treated as such.
The United States is home to over 30 million young and emerging adults. Americans entering adulthood are doing so under unique circumstances: during a period marked by a global pandemic, political polarization and unrest, economic instability and increasing economic inequality, low social mobility, and increasing costs of living and education. Navigating these challenges while also making important life decisions, becoming financially independent, and developing a personal identity places physical, mental, and emotional stress on young people.
Despite the common belief that people in this life stage are at their healthiest, young and emerging adults experience a variety of unique physical, mental, and behavioral health challenges. Compared to other age groups, young adults are the most likely to die or be injured from motor vehicle accidents, homicides, mental health problems, sexually transmitted infections, and substance abuse. Young adulthood is also a period of psychological vulnerability. The onset of many psychological conditions, like schizophrenia, mood disorders, and substance use disorders, often occurs during young adulthood. Behavioral health is an especially salient topic when discussing young and emerging adults. Young adulthood is the life stage where many risky behaviors emerge and/or peak. As adolescents age into their 20s, they are more likely to smoke, binge drink, use drugs, and engage in unsafe sexual behaviors. Young adults also have lower rates of healthcare utilization compared to other age groups. The lack of utilization of and access to mental healthcare among young and emerging adults is particularly troublesome—75% of young adults experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder do not receive treatment or support services, and the portion of young adults that do receive care are more likely to drop out of or discontinue treatment than older adults and adolescents.
Some health and well-being indicators have been improving among young adults, despite these challenges; recent reviews have shown decreased rates of suicide, gonorrhea, and cigarette use, but not all young people have reaped the benefits. Systemic racism, discrimination, and prejudice puts young people of color at particular risk for poor health outcomes. Experiencing bias and discriminatory behavior has been linked to worse educational and employment outcomes, poor physical and psychological health, and undue amounts of stress. For example, young Black and Hispanic/Latinx people are overrepresented among those who drop out of high school, an event which is strongly associated with poor future outcomes, like joblessness and chronic disease. Differential treatment of young people of color in school, particularly in disciplinary practices, is also associated with poor outcomes later in life. Almost 50% of Black males have been arrested once by age 23. Additionally, young and emerging adults that are economically poor, disabled, LGBTQ+, and/or of color experience compounding marginalizations and are overall more likely to struggle to thrive.
Achieving health equity and justice for young and emerging adults requires continued dedication to their well-being. It is important to remember that many of the negative health outcomes that young and emerging adults face are preventable. Special attention should be paid to marginalized groups, especially young adults of color, in order to improve their access to opportunities, care, and health equity. Institutionalizing and operationalizing equity and justice throughout education, employment, government, and health care systems/programs for young adults will require organizations, allies, and systems to deeply center and follow the leadership of people with lived experience. Community-led processes, self-representation, and centering the perspectives and voices of young and emerging adults are a few effective tactics communities can leverage to advance equity and well-being.
Resources & Tools
Reflecting on My Mom’s Death: Moving Toward A More Complex Understanding of Health, Disability, And Dying
Story
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Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 03/28/2023
Beyond Inclusion: Pronoun Use for Health and Well-Being
Story
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Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
The Intersection of Housing and Mental Well-Being: Examining the Needs of Formerly Homeless Young Adults Transitioning to Stable Housing
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by NLM
A Review of the Domains of Well-Being for Young People
Resource - Report
Brought to you by Urban Institute
District of Columbia B24-0941: Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Amendment Act of 2022
Resource - Report
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Conversation Guide: Social, Emotional, and Spiritual Renewal for Youth
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by Living Room Conversations
State Laws to Support Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Resource
Brought to you by SchoolHouse Connection
Association of Recent Violence Encounters With Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescents With Depression
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Brought to you by JAMA
Bright Spot: Applied Suicide Prevention Skills (ASIST)
Resource - Model Policy
Brought to you by 100MHL
“My Body, Whose Choice?” A Call to Advance Reproductive Justice in Pediatric Training
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by American Academy of Pediatrics
Age of Onset of Mental Disorders: A Review of Recent Literature
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by Wolters Kluwer
Young People and Long COVID
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Student Well-Being a Top Priority at Ramona High School
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by Attendance Works
Family Connections, Strong Culture at Sanger High School
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by Attendance Works
Indiana SB 234: High School Equivalency Pilot Program
Resource - Report
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Adverse Childhood Experiences: Health Care Utilization And Expenditures In Adulthood
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by Health Affairs
American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment III: Reference Group Data Report Fall 2019
Resource - Report
Brought to you by American College Health Association
Indiana SB 158: Indiana Youth Service Program
Resource - Report
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Impacts of Adolescent and Young Adult Civic Engagement on Health and Socioeconomic Status in Adulthood
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Dr. Rachel Levine Focused on Her Job at HHS. Still, Anti-Trans Politics Followed Her
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by NPR
The Role Youth and Young Adults Play in Mental Health Legislation
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by Active Minds
The Best of Both Worlds: A Closer Look at Creating Spaces That Connect Young and Old
Resource - Report
Brought to you by Generations United Inc.
Employment and Disconnection Among Teens and Young Adults: The Role of Place, Race, and Education
Resource
Brought to you by Brookings
Gun Violence Becomes Leading Cause of Death Among Us Youth, Data Shows
Story - Written
Brought to you by The Guardian
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Young Men of Color
Story - Written
Brought to you by Community Commons
When the Biggest Student Mental Health Advocates Are the Students
Story - Written
Brought to you by NYT
Published on 02/06/2024
There Aren’t Enough Young Farmers. Congress Is Looking To Change That
Story - Written
Brought to you by NPR
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