Subjective Age Identity during the Transition to Adulthood: Psychological and Sociological Perspectives

Abstract

This review examines the literature on subjective age identity during the transition to adulthood. After a brief discussion of the concept of adult status, it presents psychological and sociological explanations of feeling like an adult. Psychology interprets this phenomenon to be a function of individualistic qualities, such as believing one self to be financially responsible or being able to make personal decisions without the help of others. Sociology focuses on the impact of taking on new social roles in particular social contexts, such as the workplace and school. Currently, some scholars argue that factors from both disciplines are interrelated. At the end of the review several theoretical and methodological suggestions are offered to improve future research in this area.