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Accelerated and Emerging Transitions to Adulthood: Identity, Upward Mobility, and Life Outcomes on a College Campus

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Date Issued:
2018
Abstract/Description:
In this study I analyze how college students transition to adulthood. Based on 38 semi-structured interviews with young adults, I found that two groups appeared: emerging adults and accelerated adults. Emerging adults were more likely to come from economically privileged families and had the social and economic resources to focus on education, pursue a fulfilling career, and have fun while in college. In contrast, accelerated adults had adopted adult responsibilities during their childhood or teenage years and struggled to succeed in college due to inadequate guidance, lingering emotional anguish over childhood events, and lack of financial support. Although enrolled in the same university, these groups transitioned to adulthood very differently. I discuss the implications for each type of transition, as well as the implications of my findings for public policy and for future sociological research.
Title: Accelerated and Emerging Transitions to Adulthood: Identity, Upward Mobility, and Life Outcomes on a College Campus.
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Name(s): Ostroot, Ashley, author
Branaman, Ann, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Department of Sociology
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2018
Date Issued: 2018
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 101 p.
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: In this study I analyze how college students transition to adulthood. Based on 38 semi-structured interviews with young adults, I found that two groups appeared: emerging adults and accelerated adults. Emerging adults were more likely to come from economically privileged families and had the social and economic resources to focus on education, pursue a fulfilling career, and have fun while in college. In contrast, accelerated adults had adopted adult responsibilities during their childhood or teenage years and struggled to succeed in college due to inadequate guidance, lingering emotional anguish over childhood events, and lack of financial support. Although enrolled in the same university, these groups transitioned to adulthood very differently. I discuss the implications for each type of transition, as well as the implications of my findings for public policy and for future sociological research.
Identifier: FA00005998 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Subject(s): College students
Adulthood
Identity
Sociological research
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005998
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.