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Relative Work and Family Role Centralities: Beliefs and Behaviors Related to the Transition to Adulthood

Journal of Family and Economic Issues volume 37, pages 75–88 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

The current study of 434 young adults investigated the relative centralities of anticipated adult roles. Based on assigned percentages to career, marriage, and parenthood roles, five distinct relative centrality profiles were created: Child Centered, Marriage Centered, Marriage and Child, Career Centered, and Family and Career. The Career Centered and Marriage Centered groups tended to differ the most, with the former being less enthusiastic toward marriage and reporting less cautious beliefs and behavior related to sexuality and risk taking. Other nuanced differences were also explored. It is argued that the centrality profiles have implications for the decisions that young adults currently make that could lead them along various trajectories toward adulthood that influence if and how adult roles are realized.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA

    Scott S. Hall

  2. Department of Family Life, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA

    Brian J. Willoughby

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Hall, S.S., Willoughby, B.J. Relative Work and Family Role Centralities: Beliefs and Behaviors Related to the Transition to Adulthood. J Fam Econ Iss 37, 75–88 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-014-9436-x

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Keywords

  • Identity salience
  • Role centrality
  • Transition to adulthood