ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

Brief summary: This review uses an evolutionary approach to provide an interesting discussion on a proposed period of development called ‘emerging adulthood’. The authors explain that it can be seen not only as a sociological transition period but also as a biological life-history phase.

The central theme of this review is ‘emerging adulthood’, which is the concept that an additional 4-6-year pre-adult period should be included in models of human development. The concept of emerging adulthood was initially introduced by Arnett [1] as ‘a phase of life between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, with distinctive demographic, social, and subjective psychological features’. This emerging adulthood phase exists also in other mammals and it is likely the result of genetic and cultural evolution.

Importantly, the authors highlight that this phase is characterized by further brain maturation, involving in particular neocortical association areas in the frontal lobes. Consequently, emerging adulthood is characterized by progressive increases in individuals’ cognitive abilities, which reach their peak around the 4^th decade. Emerging adulthood is also a social stage, being an important period of learning about intimacy and mutual support, intensification of pre-existing friendships, family-oriented socialization, and the attainment of those social skills needed for mating and reproduction.

This life-history stage applies to individuals aged between 18–25 years, a critical period when people become progressively economically independent by training and/or education. Emerging adults are still learning and maturing and thus they have a level of ‘vulnerability’ and require protection.

Although not discussed in the review, emerging adulthood is also an important concept in medicine when managing patients with chronic conditions. In this context, emerging adulthood indicates a period of gradual transition from paediatric to adult care. Awareness of the dynamic aspects of this phase should be considered to support emerging adults and make the transition process as smooth as possible [2,3]. A key goal of the transition process should be to optimize health outcomes and increase opportunities for young people with chronic conditions to achieve their maximum potential.

References: 1. Arnett JJ. Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. Am Psychol. 2000;55(5):469–480. 2. Gray WN. Schaefer MR, Resmini-Rawlinson A, Wagoner ST. Barriers to transition from pediatric to adult care: A systematic review. J Pediatr Psychol. 2018; 43(5):488–502. 3. de Beaufort C, Gomber A, Sap S, Laffel L. From paediatric to adult diabetes care: lost in transition. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2023;11(7):446–448.