The Features of Emerging Adulthood Developmental Stage in Iranian University Students: Culture and Gender

The purpose of this study was to identify the features of emerging adulthood developmental stage (from 18 to 29 years old) in Iranian university students and investigate the role of gender in perception of these features. By employing criterion sampling, 15 persons (M=23.26, 8 males and 7 females) were selected from 18-29-year-old university students/graduates who were living in Tehran in 2017. All participants were subjected to a semi-structured interview. Analyzing the data by employing the phenomenological method and Colaizzi’s seven-step strategy indicated seven features, including Agency formation, Identity formation, Confusion, Optimism, Feeling in-between, Instability, and the need for intimacy. Results also showed that there were some differences between males and females in Agency formation, Confusion, Instability, and the need for intimacy. The results of this study emphasize the need to review the knowledge of the young age period in Iranian culture and provides hints in this regard.