Emerging Adulthood and Its Characteristics in Iranian University Students

Purpose: Emerging adulthood (EA) theory has been proposed as a distinct developmental period between adolescence and adulthood by Arnett in 2000. This construct is promptly embraced by contemporary scholars, and research on emerging adulthood increased over the past decade in many countries, but yet questions remained about the universality of emerging adulthood. This article is extracted from a pioneer research on emerging adulthood theory in Iran. The purpose of this study was to investigate applicability of the theory and its five characteristics in Iranian society. Methodology: Participants included six hundred ninety four undergraduate students, aged 18 to 25. The Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) was used. Findings: Results showed that a majority of Iranian university students viewed themselves as being emerging adults. The five characteristics of emerging adulthood predominantly endorsed by Participants. Some gender and age differences were observed in endorsement of emerging adulthood characteristics. Discussion: These findings support existence of the new life stage in Iran. As a result, the applicability of the theory and its dimensions confirmed in this community.