Emerging Adulthood Features and Adjustment: A Person-Centered Approach

A person-centered approach applied to the Inventory of Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) would provide a holistic outlook on this developmental period. This study aimed to (1) determine the presence of distinct profiles based on the IDEA scales and (2) compare these profiles with regard to sociodemographic indicators, internalizing problems, and problematic alcohol use. Participants (N = 307; mean age = 21) filled out the IDEA and questionnaires assessing internalizing problems and problematic alcohol use. Four profiles were identified: stalled transition (5%), moderate transition (43%), positive transition (35%), and transitional time (17%). Individuals in the transitional time profile reported higher internalizing problems and higher problematic alcohol use than youths assigned to the other profiles. These results suggest that applying a person-centered approach to the IDEA allows for the identification of distinct profiles with regard to the features of emerging adulthood and reported adjustment issues.