Rogina C. Lara 2 AB-Psychology Dr. Ha Young Song June 26,2015

 The life stage called early adulthood defines individuals between the ages of 20 and 35, who are typically vibrant, active and healthy, and are focused on friendships, romance, child bearing and careers. Yet serious conditions, such as violent events, depression and eating disorders, can negatively impact young adults.  Early Adulthood extends from ages 18 to approximately age 40, when the physical and psychological changes which accompany the beginning of the loss of reproductive capacity appear.

Physiological Changes  Biological Changes  Emerging adulthood and adolescence differ significantly with regards to puberty and hormonal development. While there is considerable overlap between the onset of puberty (typically between the ages of 10 and 11 in girls and 11 and 12 in boys) and the developmental stage referred to as adolescence, there are considerably fewer hormonal and physical changes taking place in individuals between the ages of As most girls finish puberty between the ages of 15 and 17, and most boys finish by the time they are 16–17 years of age,emerging adults have reached a stage of full hormonal maturity and are now fully, physically equipped for sexual reproduction. Ironically, while "emerging adults" might not feel ready for parenthood, women reach levels of peak fertility throughout this period of time (usually at some point in their early 20s).

 Cognitive development While many people believe that the brains of emerging adults are fully developed, they are in fact still developing into their adult forms. Many connections within the brain are strengthened and those that are unused are pruned away. Several brain structures develop that allow for greater processing of emotions and social information. Areas of the brain used for planning and for processing risk and rewards also undergo important developments during this stage. These developments in brain structure and the resulting implications are one factor that leads emerging adults to be considered more mature than adolescents. This is due to the fact that they make fewer impulsive decisions and rely more on planning and evaluating of situations.

 Abnormal development The research shows that those with various disorders will not feel symptoms until emerging adulthood. Kessler and Merikangas reported that "50% of emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 25 experience at least one psychiatric disorder." Not only is the emergence of various disorders prevalent in emerging adulthood, but the chance of developing a disorder drastically decreases at age 28.

 Abnormal development Seventy-five percent of any lifetime DSM-IV anxiety, mood, impulse-control and substance abuse disorder begins before age 24. Most onsets at this age will not be, or become,comorbid. The median onset interquartile range of substance use disorders is 18-27, while the median onset age is 20. The median onset age of mood disorders is 25. Anxiety disorders tend to begin at 25.comorbidsubstance use disordersAnxiety disorders

 Characterized by a reevaluation of the parent-child relationship, primarily in regard to autonomy. As a child switches from the role of a dependent to the role of a fellow adult, the family dynamic changes significantly. At this stage, it is important that parents acknowledge and accept their child's status as an adult.This process may include gestures such as allowing increased amounts of privacy and extending trust. Granting this recognition assists the increasingly independent offspring in forming a strong sense of identity and exploration at a time when it is most crucial.parent-child relationship Relationships Parent- child relationship

Sexual relationships There are a wide variety of factors that influence sexual relationships during emerging adulthood. It is first important to define sexual relations by emerging adult standards. In the United States, typically oral sex is not considered sexual intercourse by most emerging adults. [23] However, vaginal intercourse and anal intercourse are consistently viewed as sexual intercourse by emerging adults.oral sexsexual intercourse [23]anal intercourse