Understanding Adulthood

Defining Adulthood In Australia adulthood is defined from 18 years of age onwards and is often seen as the time when a person has ‘grown up’, or matured emotionally and socially. Adulthood is the final and longest stage of the lifespan, however physical, social, emotional and intellectual changes in health development still occur.

Early Adulthood (18-39 years) Early adulthood marks the transition from youth and establishment of an increasingly independent identity. During this time, a young adult finishes their growth cycle – the body enters a maintenance phase and starts replacing or repairing cells but does not produce new cells for growth.

Middle Adulthood (40-64 years) Middle adulthood is often seen as a time of consolidation and reflection. It is a time of achievement that is looked forward to as they experience a peak in their career followed by retirement from the workforce. Life priorities often change. The body still remains in maintenance phase however towards the end of this stage signs of aging start to appear.

Later Adulthood (65+ years) This stage is often clouded with negative perceptions, but during this stage a number of changes occur that have a positive impact on health and development, for example retirement. There are also negative impacts on health that occur, for example loss of memory, death of a spouse or loved one.