Transition to Adulthood and Established Adulthood: A Qualitative Study on Psychological and Social Changes

Year 2025, Volume: 29 Issue: 3, 522 - 538

Petek Akman Özdemir

https://doi.org/10.53487/atasobed.1624646

Abstract

The developmental period between the ages of 30 and 45 has recently been named as
established adulthood as it encompasses developmental characteristics, and life tasks
that distinguish it from emerging adulthood and middle adulthood. This study aims to
examine perceptions of adulthood, experiences of the transition to adulthood,
psychological and social changes in established adulthood. 16 established adults between
the ages of 30 and 35 participated in the study. The research employed a descriptive
phenomenological design, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect
data. The data was analyzed using the inductive thematic analysis method. Five main
themes were identified in the thematic analysis: perception of being an adult, factors
playing a role in the transition to adulthood, self, identity and change, changes in social
relations, and expectations for the future. The majority of the participants viewed
themselves as adults. They believed that the transition to adulthood was based on taking
responsibility, gaining autonomy and achieving economic independence. The study
revealed that self-understanding and wisdom increased, identity exploration diminished
or ceased, priorities shifted, and the quality of relationships with parents and friends
changed. Some participants stated that they had less opportunities in life due to being in
established adulthood. The study contributes to a better understanding of the
experiences of established adults in Turkey and identifies the distinctive features of
established adulthood.

Keywords

Perception of adulthood, established adulthood, self, identity, social relationships

Ethical Statement

Ethics approval was obtained from Beykoz University (Meeting No: 2020/2, Date: 10.07.2020).

Thanks

The author would like to thank Prof. Dr. Nermin Çelen and Prof. Dr. Nurgün Oktik for their support in formulating interview questions, and Asst. Prof. Rukiye Köroğlu for her support in the coding.

Yetişkinliğe Geçiş ve Yerleşik Yetişkinlik: Psikolojik ve Sosyal Değişimler Üzerine Nitel Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Beliren yetişkinlik ve orta yetişkinlikten farklı gelişimsel özellikleri ve yaşam olaylarını içermesi
nedeni ile 30 ile 45 yaşları arasındaki gelişim dönemi yerleşik yetişkinlik olarak
adlandırılmıştır. Bu araştırmada yetişkinliğe ilişkin algıların, yetişkinliğe geçiş deneyimlerinin,
yerleşik yetişkinlikteki psikolojik ve sosyal değişimlerin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmaya
30 ile 35 yaşları arasındaki 16 yerleşik yetişkin katılmıştır. Araştırma betimleyici
fenomenolojik desende yürütülmüştür ve yarı-yapılandırılmış görüşmeler yapılarak veri
toplanmıştır. Yapılan tematik analizde yetişkin algısı, yetişkinliğe geçişte rol oynayan
etmenler, benlik, kimlik ve değişim, sosyal ilişkilerdeki değişim ve geleceğe ilişkin beklentiler
olmak üzere beş ana tema oluşturulmuştur. Katılımcıların çoğunluğu kendilerini yetişkin
olarak algıladıklarını ifade etmiştir. Yetişkinliğe geçişi; sorumluluk alma, özerklik ve ekonomik
bağımsızlık kazanmaya dayalı olarak ele almışlardır. Araştırma yerleşik yetişkinlikte kendini
anlamanın ve bilgeliğin arttığını, kimlik arayışının azaldığını ya da sonlandığı, önceliklerin,
ebeveynler ve arkadaşlar ile ilişkilerin niteliğinin değiştiğini göstermiştir. Bazı katılımcıların
yerleşik yetişkinlik döneminde yaşamdaki olasılıklarının azaldığını düşündükleri belirlenmiştir.
Çalışma Türkiye’deki yerleşik yetişkinlerin deneyimlerinin daha iyi anlaşılmasına ve yerleşik
yetişkinliğin ayırt edici özelliklerinin belirlenmesine katkıda bulunmaktadır.

Keywords

Yetişkin algısı, yerleşik yetişkinlik, benlik, kimlik, sosyal ilişkiler

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma için Beykoz Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma ve Yayın Etiği Kurulundan etik kurul onayı alınmıştır (Toplantı No: 2020/2, Tarih: 10.07.2020).

Thanks

Yazar, Prof. Dr. Nermin Çelen’e ve Prof. Dr. Nurgün Oktik’e görüşme soruların hazırlanmasına verdikleri destek, Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Rukiye Köroğlu’na kodlama sürecindeki desteği için teşekkür eder.

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