The extension of the transition to adulthood and the concept of emerging adulthood: Specifics of Portuguese and Brazilian context | O prolongamento da transição para a idade adulta e o conceito de adultez emergente: Especificidades do contexto português e brasileiro

Abstract

In late modern societies, the normative regulation of life courses in the transition to adulthood has become more lenient, delaying the fulfillment of adult roles up to the end of the third decade of life, and thus creating the conditions for more flexible and private life trajectories. The transformations occurred in post-industrial societies lead to the emergence of new concepts and theories in the realm of Developmental Psychology, from which we selected the theory of emerging adulthood for further exploration and discussion. In this article, the importance and utility of emerging adulthood as a new developmental period is discussed, considering the dynamic interactions between personal agency and the macro-structures that allow a better understanding of young people's status in post-modern societies. The characteristics of this theory are also explored in the light of Portuguese society, since emerging adulthood is mainly experienced inside the parental home, as family is the main source of support in an increasingly precarious environment. Finally, a comparison between the Portuguese and Brazilian reality is established, discussing the similarities and differences between both countries.