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Chapter 11
Young Adulthood
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Definition
20 and 40 years of age
Early adulthood
Legal age of adulthood in the United States is18 years of age
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Developmental Tasks
Erickson: intimacy versus isolation
Achieve the tasks of becoming self-supportive, acquiring independence, developing intimate relationships, and establishing a stable family and lifestyle
Developmental process from adolescence to adulthood is most often a gradual one
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4. Physiological Changes
Physical health, motor coordination, and physiological performance typically peak between the ages of 20 and 30
Epiphyses of the long bones fuse by the early twenties
Muscular strength is at its peak
Heart and lungs are also at their peak capacity
See Health Promotion
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Physical Activity
Should perform at least 2.5 hours of moderately intense aerobic exercise every week
Muscle-strengthening activities
Exercises involving balance and coordination-over exercising can cause loss of strength
Major causes of death in young adulthood are most often related to accidents or violence, both of which often are preventable
Healthy People 2020 has identified priority areas for health promotion include maintaining physical activity, fitness, and nutrition; decreasing the use of tobacco and alcohol; encouraging positive mental health practices; and providing adequate information concerning family planning options
Use of MyPlate will help understand portion sizes
See Table 11-1 and Figure 11-3.
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Women's Health
Women influence a generation of children to practice good health habits and to choose healthy lifestyles and should include safe sex practices and how and when performing breast self examinations
Education and access to care have increased
Women’s Health clinics and specialists
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7. Pregnancy Prenatal care Ectopic pregnancy Pelvic inflammatory disease
Major risks factors deal with lack of prenatal care, inadequate knowledge of health needs, and poor nutrition
In second trimester need to start working with expecting mother to think about the physical environment among other things Table 11-2
third trimester of pregnancy is the time that information should be given to parents concerning labor, the birth process, preparation for birth, etc.
Ectopic pregnancy
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Sexually transmitted diseases
Hysterectomy
Annual Papanicoluaou (Pap) smears
for sexually active young women, because human papillomavirus (HPV) is also known to be a cause of cervical cancer, and both Pap and HPV tests are done at the same time
See Box 11-1.

8. Stress, Coping, and Domestic Violence
Multiple roles can contribute to stress and the potential development of depression or anxiety
Violent behavior against women is considered an epidemic and the cycle can escalate once it starts
Intimate partner violence
Signs of Intimate Partner Violence
• Erratic prenatal care
• Erratic child health-care appointments
• Bruises and lacerations in various stages of healing
• Self blame for marital or relationship problems
• History of alcohol or drug abuse in partner
• History of abuse as a child (cycle of violence)
• History of minor battering incidents
See Figure 11-5 and Box 11-2.
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Men's Health
May be at a higher risk for injury
Seek health care or guidance less frequently than women
Important to make them understand to be more sensitive to needing to seek out assistance to health concerns
Testicular self-examination
Young men should be given information on how to perform self examination
Free clinics for STD testing and treatment
Health and fitness clubs
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10. Psychosocial Development
Schools play significant roles in helping the adolescent prepare for the developmental tasks and challenges of young adulthood
Multiple developmental tasks and challenges
Parenting and family-life classes and money-management workshops are examples of courses that can help prepare for the transition into adult life
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Intimacy
One of the major tasks of young adulthood
Ability to develop a warm, trusting, honest relationship with another person
Lack of a clear sense of identity may contribute to isolation
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Cognitive Ability
Intellectual and creative skills and abilities peak
Piaget believed that the development of the formal operation of thinking extends into adulthood
Postformal operational thought-for effective problem solving
Levinson described four seasons of life
each season had a structure that is separated by transitional periods
choices such as a marriage partner and commitment to a career are made
choices are reviewed and reevaluated, and changes may be made
later individuals may reflect on past activities and may become unhappy because of missed opportunities or what they perceive as wrong choices
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Moral Reasoning
Enhanced by life experiences in an adult role or a college milieu
According to Kohlberg taking responsibility for the care of others, handling the differing points of view of others, and understanding how their own actions affect others
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Sexuality
Identity and cognitive function have reached the level that allows intimate sharing
Influenced by culture, customs, and environment
May be more difficult or delayed if relationship with parents did not produce a healthy, secure attachment
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Marriage
Most often occurs during the young-adult phase of the life cycle
May be postponed to pursue higher education in college or to establish their career
Often select partners who are similar to themselves
Partner choice is thought to be based on a three-stage process
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Parenting
Not all adults achieve or desire marriage and family
Most proactive development of parental skills begins at the time conception is confirmed
Healthy parenting styles can be easily learned
Interventions by the health-care worker can be helpful in prioritizing behaviors and in meeting the major needs of the infant and adolescent parent
Build on previous knowledge and skills and let others know that help is appreciated
Go over Table 11-2
See Table 11-2.
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Teaching Techniques
Successful learning for adults always involves relating the information they are learning to the appropriate developmental tasks they are experiencing
Positive health behaviors that are practiced now can help reduce the development of chronic or serious disease processes later in life such as exercising on regular basis, etc
Should be interactive, problem oriented, and related to daily psychosocial tasks at work, home, or school
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