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Predictors of Positive Development in Emerging Adulthood

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Abstract

This article responds to recent calls for a focus on successful development in young people and examination of its developmental precursors, in order to identify potentially modifiable targets for interventions. The current study examined child and adolescent precursors of positive functioning in emerging adulthood, including individual characteristics, relationship factors, and connections to the community, using a multidimensional positive development measure at 19–20 years. The sample consisted of 511 males and 647 females who were participants in the Australian Temperament Project, a population based longitudinal study that has followed young people’s psychosocial adjustment from infancy to early adulthood. Higher levels of positive development in emerging adulthood were associated with stronger family and peer relationships, better adjustment to the school setting, higher family socioeconomic status, and better emotional control. Some significant gender differences were observed, with emotional control, family relationships, and community orientation all being stronger predictors of males’ than of females’ positive development. The findings provide possible targets for child and adolescent interventions to promote positive development in early adulthood.

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Acknowledgments

The ATP study is led and managed by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, and further information is available from the ATP website (www.aifs.gov.au/atp). Funding for this analysis was supported through grants from the Australian Research Council. Professor Toumbourou is supported by a Victorian Health Promotion Foundation Senior Research Fellowship. We wish to acknowledge the work of Professors Margot Prior and Frank Oberklaid, along with other collaborators who have contributed to the Australian Temperament Project. We would also like to sincerely thank the participating families for their loyal support of the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia

    Meredith O’Connor, Ann Sanson, Mary T. Hawkins & Primrose Letcher

  2. School of Psychology, Deakin University, Deakin, Australia

    John W. Toumbourou

  3. Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne, Australia

    Diana Smart & Suzanne Vassallo

  4. Psychological Sciences & Department of Paediatrics, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne, Flemington Rd, Parkville, 3052, VIC, Australia

    Craig A. Olsson

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  1. Meredith O’Connor
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  2. Ann Sanson
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  3. Mary T. Hawkins
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  4. Primrose Letcher
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  5. John W. Toumbourou
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Correspondence to Meredith O’Connor.

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O’Connor, M., Sanson, A., Hawkins, M.T. et al. Predictors of Positive Development in Emerging Adulthood. J Youth Adolescence 40, 860–874 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-010-9593-7

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