Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Since the early twentieth century, when the concept of adolescence as a separate life stage was first proposed, the process of becoming an adult has changed substantially. The transition to adulthood was compressed and standardized during the first half of the century, then stretched out and individualized during the later part of the century. In this paper, we examine the consequences of changes in the acquisition of adult roles for the nature of adolescence and young adulthood. We look at changes in life course stages as reflected in the age distribution of "problem" behaviors such as crime, substance use, and violent death. These behaviors have historically been concentrated in adolescence; changes in the timing of the transition to adulthood should be reflected in the age distribution of these behaviors. We find little evidence that behaviors typical of adolescence are moving upward to older ages. Although the achievement of adult roles is being pushed to older ages, this stretching of the transition to adulthood is not reflected in the observed patterns of substance use, violent death, and arrests. Our results suggest that social definitions of adulthood are changing along with transformations in the timing of entrance into adult roles.

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