The Pros And Cons Of Emerging Adulthood

Emerging adulthood is a time in which vital exploration and experimentation takes place; the discoveries that one makes during this time can very much determine their life path. It's during early adulthood that individuals begin to really examine what they want in terms of career, identity, and relationships. These examinations can prove to be quite difficult, as each aspect of adulthood has its pros and cons. The transition from adolescence to adulthood, the emergence of sexual issues, and the complicated workforce are areas that demand close examination and consideration during this time.
In order to understand the unique challenges that emerging adults face, one must first understand what emerging adulthood refers to; emerging adulthood
Firstly, the importance of identity exploration is intensified; key identity markers are discovered during this time that can determine ideals about jobs, relationships, and success. Additionally, instability colors this stage, as very few aspects of life remain the same as they were in adolescence. From residence, to jobs, to friends, to relationships, just about every aspect changes during this time. Furthermore, individuals are more self-focused during this time; this is because they are not typically weighed down by quite so many commitments and obligations as they will be in later adulthood. In addition, young adults are plagued by a feeling of being in-between adolescence and adulthood; they struggle to feel like they fit in either category. Lastly, emerging adults experience young adulthood as an age of opportunities, in which they are optimistic about their futures (Santrock, 2017,
During early adulthood, a lot of sexual exploration takes place, and so does quite a bit of casual sex. Due to the risky nature of casual sex, it's imperative that individuals take control of their sexual health and well-being.
One sexual issues associated with emerging adulthood is sexually transmitted infections, or STI's. STI's are spread often through unprotected sex, and can really negatively affect a person's life. While many people may think that they will not be affected by STI's, they are much more common than one may think: about 1 in 6 adults in the United States will contract an STI at some point in their lives. Some of the most common STI's include: gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, genital warts, and HIV (Santrock, 2017, pg. 418).
Rape is another major sexual issue that is present during young adulthood. While rape can occur at any point in life, statistics have shown that freshmen women in college are at especially high risk. Despite rape being an extremely common occurrence, very few women tend to report being raped. In a study of college women who had been raped, only 11.5% reported their rape. That number was even less when alcohol or drugs were involved, with only 2.7% reporting (Santrock, 2017, pg. 420). This is largely because the consequences of reporting a rape can be incredibly damaging, and it can make an already traumatic experience much