Emerging Adulthood in China: The Role of Social and Cultural Factors

It has been proposed that emerging adulthood (ages 18 through the middle 20s) is a period of development distinguished by unique features that include feeling in-between, identity exploration, a focus on the self, instability, and possibilities. This article argues that cultural beliefs and norms about socialization and social relationships are likely to affect the meaning and developmental patterns of emerging adulthood. Specifically, the article focuses on the unique aspects of Chinese culture that should be taken into account in the study of emerging adulthood. Most notably, the article examines how the cultural emphasis on group orientation (e.g., obligation to family) influences the extent to which the proposed features of emerging adulthood are observed in China.