Catharine Toso looks into a few of the social pressures children face as they enter their teens.

1. Societal Expectations of Young Adults
Research suggests that the transition to adulthood now typically takes longer than in previous
decades. Greater access to postsecondary education and a wider range of opportunities have
greatly increased a person's options, and expectations regarding the steps a person should take
after finishing high school or college are not as clear-cut.
After high school, for example, an individual may enter a specialized school or training college,
pursue an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, or enter the workforce. A person might
obtain a bachelor's degree and then decide to continue in school to obtain a master's degree or
even a doctorate. In the past, the path a young adult took after high school was often
predetermined by family and gender expectations, as well as one's economic status, but this is
less often the case today.
Many young adults today are under a numerous amount of pressure to succeed in life and
sociological milestones. In a 1995 study conducted by psychologist Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, 300
young people between the ages of 18 and 29 were asked to report the emotions and feelings
they experienced while on the threshold of adulthood.
Arnett surveyed individuals from all over the world, but the overarching result was a desire to
achieve independence while still remaining closely linked to one's family, in order to obtain
support when necessary.
Arnett noted a shift from previous generations of young adults, who were generally encouraged
after high school to find work, move out of home, and start a family. In fact, 50 years ago, the
average age of marriage in the United States, for both men and women, was about 22. Now, the
average age for men is 28, while for women it is 24. The study also shows that many American
adults young adults report more positive feelings about their families when they do not live in the
same household.
Mental Health in Young Adults
In the United States, importance is often placed on one's ability to obtain full-time employment,
become financially responsible, maintain an independent household, and support a family.
Societal expectations can leave some young adults feeling pressured to make lifelong decisions
before they are ready.
As a result, some young adults may face anxiety and experience troublesome thoughts about
their future. For example, social norms may lead many young people to believe that their goal
should be marriage and a family, but some may find, as they transition from young adults to
adults, that they prefer to remain single, unmarried, or without children.

2. Young adults also have a high risk for suicide. According to the National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control (CDC), suicide is the third leading cause of death in Americans between
the ages of 15 and 24. Some prominent risk factors for young adult suicide include:
● History of previous suicide attempts
● Family history of suicide
● History of depression
● History of other mental health issues
● Alcohol or substance abuse
● Stressful life events
● Trauma
● Incarceration