The majority of grandparents in the United States are married and do not reside with their grandchild(ren) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2014; Wu, 2018). The life stage of encore adulthood between 55 and 75 years old (Moen, 2016) often overlaps with grandparenthood. Time with grandchildren, and more broadly shared leisure time within couples during encore adulthood is minimally studied, this study provides insight to the process of family leisure among grandparent couples. Guided by life course and critical feminist perspectives, this qualitative inquiry examined the process of family leisure among grandparent couples during the life stage of encore adulthood (Daly, and Beaton, 2005; Moen, 2016). The results of this study, utilizing the method of constructivist grounded theory, present a theory grounded in lived experiences of 10 grandparent couples (Charmaz, 2014; Daly, 2007). The family leisure experiences with grandchildren model is presented with three components: life course dimensions, engaging in family leisure, and relationships within the couple and with grandchildren. / Doctor of Philosophy / The purpose of this study was to understand how grandparent couples between the ages of 55 and 75 years navigate family leisure experiences. Family leisure is defined as time spent together by grandparents and grandchildren in free time or recreational activities. Through in-person interviews, I interviewed each partner in 10 couples. Criteria to participate in the study included: (a) both members of the couple were able and willing to participate in interviews, (b) both members of the couple were in encore adulthood (between 55 and 75 years), (c) couples were in relationships with each other for at least five years, and (d) couples had grandchild(ren). Participants were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, an in-person interview, and a reflective journal. All participants completed the demographic questionnaire and five individuals submitted a reflective journal. On average, interviews lasted 64 minutes. After interviews were transcribed, they were analyzed at the couple level. Grounded in the experiences of the 10 couples, the findings resulted in a model that illustrates how they performed family leisure with their grandchildren. Grandparent couples indicated that leisure with their grandchildren contributed to the way they thought about and talked about their family relationships. The grandparent couples described how instrumental their children were in allowing access to grandchildren for family leisure. Grandparent couples’ experiences illustrated that family leisure with grandchildren was more meaningful to their couple relationship than other shared recreational activities, yet family leisure required navigating family relationships such as with in-laws and children. Implications of research and future research are provided.

Sibling relationships have been proven to be influential to the well-being of emerging adults. However, the diversity of individuals, particularly in regard to siblings of individuals with disabilities, has rarely been examined. Therefore, the current study explored the association among sibling relationships, coping, and well-being of emerging adults who have non-disabled siblings or autistic siblings. A single online survey was distributed to people between 18-25 who have non-disabled siblings or autistic siblings. The results found that siblings of autistic individuals reported significantly less sibling warmth, less gratitude, and more emotion suppression than siblings of a non-disabled brother or sister. In addition, optimism, gratitude, and emotion suppression were mediators that affected how sibling warmth related to individual’s distress. Furthermore, optimism and gratitude could be mediators that influenced the relationship between sibling warmth and individual’s resilience. In conclusion, the current study proposed that the difference of coping styles may be the underlying mechanism of worse well-being of siblings, and more perceived sibling warmth may be a buffer for ASD-Sibs’ resilience and coping. / M.S. / Sibling relationships can provide great supports for people during emerging adulthood (18-25 years old). The current study explored how sibling relationships affected emerging adults’ distress. We recruited non-disabled individuals who had an autistic sibling or a non-disabled sibling, and distributed them into ASD-group and ND-group correspondingly. There were 26 participants in ASD-group and 73 participants in ND-group. We found that people who had autistic siblings reported less sibling warmth, gratitude attitude, and more emotion suppression compared to people who had non-disabled siblings. We also found that sibling warmth affected distress by influencing optimism, gratitude, and emotion suppression. In addition, sibling warmth affected individual’s resilience by influencing optimism and gratitude. In conclusion, we proposed that for emerging adults who had an autistic sibling, clinical practitioners should focus more on their coping styles and their sibling relationships.

This thesis focuses on the topic of motivating workers, particularly on two groups of workers - workers in the life period of young adulthood and workers in the period of late middle adulthood. In the introduction the reason for chosing this topic is explained, there are also defined the key words of this problematic and the classic motivation theories; the overview of the motivation theories focused on work environment follow afterwards. Also the findings of developmental psychology, concentrating on the life period of young and late middle adulthood and its differences are presented. Not only the classic literature was the source for this thesis; also many researches that were carried out in recent years and that are focusing on finding out the main difference of motivation of these different groups of workers were the base for this thesis. In the last part of this work I analyse my own findings that are based on the interviews I made with young and older workers and I compare these findings with the findings presented in the international researches. Finally, I state that even though there are some differences in factors that motivate young and older workers and it is necessary to take these differences into account, in the elemental aspects the factors that motivate workers are the same for...

Over the past decade, there has been an increase in academic research on media and its influences on body satisfaction. To date, the majority of body image literature focuses on low body satisfaction. While low body satisfaction leads to negative outcomes, high body satisfaction leads to a host of positive outcomes. Further, in a non-academic domain, it would seem that even some media icons are starting to take part in the effort to try to promote positive appearance messages. Singers like Christina Aguilera, Colbie Caillat, and Alessia Cara have begun writing songs like Beautiful, Try, and Scars To Your Beautiful to combat the rampant standard of the thin ideal. The current study consists of an experiment to examine the effects of positive or negative appearance music lyrics and their influence on body related outcomes (body satisfaction measured implicitly through an IAT, self-reports of body satisfaction, and observed body surveillance) in emerging adult women while moderating by adherence to sociocultural attitudes of media ideals. Results revealed that participants who listened to the positive lyrics reported significantly better body satisfaction as compared to those who listened to the negative lyrics. However, those who listened to positive lyrics did not report significantly better body satisfaction compared to those in the neutral condition and those in the neutral condition did not differ significantly from those in the negative condition. Due to preconceived schema regarding how participants already felt about their appearance, perhaps they were primed to hear lyrics confirming their appearance fears (or soothing them), but failed to attend to lyrics "unappearance" related (the neutral lyrics). Therefore, when asked about their body satisfaction, their responses reflected what they attended to, namely, either the positive or negative lyrics, not the neutral lyrics.

The current study employed a mixed methodology to investigate whether emerging adulthood differs based on vocational setting. Quantitative questionnaires were completed by 18-29 year-olds from university, vocational college/trade school, and the labour force (without post-secondary) to examine conceptions of what marks adulthood, perceptions of having reached adulthood, perceptions of having reached markers of adulthood, identity development, identification with themes of emerging adulthood, and the importance of vocational setting in shaping emerging adulthood. Qualitative interviews exploring the same areas were undertaken with a subset of participants. Results revealed few associations between vocational setting and conceptions of adulthood or perceptions of having reached adulthood, with most emerging adults feeling ambiguous about their adult status and viewing independence as the most important marker of adulthood. Those from the labour force did perceive reaching independence, role transitions, and family capacities to the greatest degree; earlier adverse circumstances seemed relevant in reaching these markers. Fewer than expected from the labour force had achieved identities, yet identity development appeared to be a gradual process for all. Participants generally identified with themes of emerging adulthood, although university students did so to a greater degree in some ways. Emerging adulthood was identified as a time of fewer possibilities and diminished agency for those from the labour force. Unique life experiences and social interactions were also deemed important factors in emerging adulthood. Together, findings largely support emerging adulthood as a valid theory of development, while also suggesting some diversity in its full expression across vocational settings.

Emerging adulthood is a new concept that identifies the span of time between 18 and 24 as a unique period of human development. The recognition of this stage as distinct and meaningful established a framework to better understand this under researched group. Yet more research needs to be conducted to address what factors and resources that are conducive to transition from this period into healthy and capable adults. A sample of 464 college students between 18 and 24 was gathered from three social science courses, two hard science courses, and two performing arts walk-in sessions. In order to assess differences in identity exploration and commitment, the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire (EIPQ) was utilized. Of these 464 participants, 6 participants took part in qualitative interview sessions. Interview questions asked participants to state their past experiences and expectations before coming to college, how those expectations had changed, what experiences and events were viewed as beneficial or detrimental toward becoming an adult, and their future plans and aspirations.No statistically significant differences were found in commitment and exploration scores between course enrolled, academic year, gender, and ethnicity. These results suggest that identity status should be regarded as a separate construct. The analysis of qualitative interviews 1) supported the validity of the EIPQ to assess identity statuses, 2) recognized developing competence and establishing autonomy as common goals among college students, 3) identified social support and the unique opportunities available at college as crucial resources and experiences conducive to adult growth, 4) identified academic difficulties and managing emotions as valuable challenges to student's development while financial difficulties and personal crises posed detrimental obstacles, and 5) recognized that achieving individual and cultural criteria was more important in establishing adult status than biological age.Thus, college can be recognized as a source of both difficulties and opportunities toward interpersonal and professional development. More exploration should be conducted in order to address how colleges can bolster its benefits while reducing negative outcomes. Furthermore, exploring the differences within identity status may provide a better understanding of the services, resources, and experiences that may support emerging adults toward adult development.

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993.

Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Also available in print.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health concern in the United States and around the world, with adolescents and emerging and young adults most at-risk for IPV. Early experiences of IPV have far-reaching, immediate negative effects on individual health and developmental outcomes. There is a small body of research on the impact of IPV on young adults’ vocational outcomes and the links between these two factors. This study utilized prospective, longitudinal data collected nationally from 1,386 individuals to examine how IPV experiences during adolescence impact IPV experiences, depression, and substance use problems during emerging adulthood and vocational outcomes during young adulthood. It was hypothesized that (a) IPV victimization during adolescence will be associated with vocational outcomes during young adulthood; (b) IPV experiences, depression and substance use problems during emerging adulthood would mediate the relationship between IPV victimization during adolescence and vocational outcomes during young adulthood; (c) there would be a positive association between depression and substance use problems during emerging adulthood; and (d) there would be a positive association between educational attainment and employment status during young adulthood. Path analyses were performed using a Structural Equation Modeling framework to test study hypotheses. Study findings revealed that adolescent IPV victimization significantly predicted emerging adult IPV victimization, reciprocal IPV and depression, and young adult educational attainment. Emerging adult depression and reciprocal IPV mediated adolescent IPV victimization and young adult vocational outcomes. Depression and substance use problems during emerging adulthood and educational attainment and employment status during young adulthood were significantly associated. The present study provides support for the developmental cascading risks of IPV on individuals’ development over time. This study adds to the dearth of empirical research showing a relationship between early IPV experiences and vocational development for young adult men and women and the importance of assessing for different types of IPV experiences and the differential impact on mental health and vocational outcomes, for women and men, across time. These findings support the importance of identifying key mediating factors and time points that may be targeted to interrupt the accumulation of IPV risk from adolescence into young adulthood.

O presente estudo investigou a transição para a vida adulta em jovens de diferentes níveis socioeconômicos (NSE) no sul do Brasil, e objetivou identificar a existência ou não do fenômeno chamado adultez emergente (AE) no sul país. A amostra foi composta de 547 jovens, residentes em Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, entre 18 e 29 anos (M = 22 anos; IQ = 19-26), 196 (35,8%) homens, e 351 (64.2%) mulheres; de NSE baixo (n = 194, 35.5%) e alto (n = 353, 64,5%). O primeiro conjunto de estudos foi composto por análises estatísticas uni e multivariadas (Análise Fatorial, MANCOVA, e Regressões Múltiplas Moderadas). Os inventários examinados, IDEA e FESA, apresentaram nova estrutura fatorial, associadas a influências do contexto brasileiro e à necessidade de revisão das medidas originais. A AE mostrou-se mais provável de ocorrer em contextos de NSE alto. O grupo de NSE baixo apresentou tendência a assumir responsabilidades adultas precocemente, o que dificulta a experimentação de um período mais exploratório de suas identidades. A dimensão Foco em si mesmo na amostra brasileira foi associada com o processo gradual dos participantes construírem uma base para sua vida adulta; e também a uma orientação mais individualista. A análise temática desenvolvida no estudo qualitativo identificou a presença das cinco principais características da AE e sua dimensão oposta, Foco nos outros, na amostra. Indivíduos de NSE alto descreveram uma transição para a vida adulta em harmonia com o que é observado em outros países industrializados. Indivíduos de NSE baixo apresentaram uma tendência diferente. A oportunidade de serem Focados em si mesmos e investirem na Exploração de sua identidade aconteceriam após um período de Foco nos outros. / The present study investigated the transition to adulthood in Southern Brazilians from differing SES and aimed to examine whether or not the phenomenon of EA exists in the country. The sample included 547 individuals; residents in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, between 18 and 29 years old (M = 22 years; IQR = 19-26), 196 (35.8%) males, and 351 (64.2%) females, of low (n = 194, 35.5%) and high SES (n = 353, 64.5%). The first set of studies was composed of univariate and multivariate statistical analysis (Factor Analysis, MANCOVA, and Moderatared Multiple Regressions). The inventories examined, IDEA and FESA, presented a new factor structure, associated with Brazilian contextual influences and the necessity of reviewing the original measures. The EA phenomenon was more likely to be present in HSES contexts in Brazil. The LSES group trend to assuming adult responsibilities earlier blocks their opportunities of exploring diverse fields. The dimension Self-focused in the Southern Brazilian sample was associated with participants’ gradual process of building a foundation to adulthood, and also with a more individualistic orientation. The thematic analysis developed in the qualitative study identified the presence of the five main EA features and its counterpart, Other-focused in the sample. HSES individuals were more likely to experience the EA features in harmony with this transition in industrialized countries. LSES individuals presented a divergent trend. Their opportunity to be Self-focused and invest in their Identity Exploration would happen after an Other-focused period.