Rethinking adult development

Guest editors Jeffrey Arnett, Margie Lachman, and Oliver Robinson, share key takeaways from the May 2020 special issue of American Psychologistopens in new window, which explores how adult development is intertwined with cultural and historical change. The issue is particularly relevant to how stressors can affect mental and physical health in adulthood during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

We focus in this special issue of American Psychologist on how adulthood is changing rapidly in ways that call for new thinking by psychologists. The 13 articles in the special issue summarize current trends and knowledge and present new ideas for research, practice, and policy.

The issue covers a range of topics that explore how adult development is intertwined with cultural and historical change. These include how identity develops around reproductive and career concerns; the challenges of balancing the demands of work and family life; increases in stress associated with aging, caregiving, and economic issues; how changes in the workplace are reshaping the timing and experience of retirement; how digital technology is changing social relationships; and the importance of new positive narratives about aging.

The course of adulthood has changed radically over recent decades. Pathways of education, work, and family life are more open and diverse than ever, and in some ways they are more stressful and challenging. Technology is reshaping how relationships and jobs change over the adult lifespan. Life expectancy is increasing, along with the potential for more healthy years following the exit from full-time work.

New theories and studies of adult development are needed to accommodate this increased diversity and unpredictability and to make sense of the societal shifts that have driven these changes.

There is greater diversity in the nature and pathways of adult development now than in the past. The special issue illustrates a multidisciplinary approach that considers factors such as culture, birth cohort, socioeconomic status, gender, race, and ethnicity to characterize and advance our understanding of adult development.

Although this makes it more complex and challenging to study the adult years, it also makes for a richer and more complete picture that can provide a useful framework for research and practice in the 21st century.

The global aging of societies calls for new perspectives and provides opportunities for addressing ageism, working longer, providing meaningful roles for older adults, and acknowledging the importance and ramifications of caregiving and grandparenting. At the same time there are challenges associated with living longer in the economic, physical health, mental health, and interpersonal spheres.

The special issue raises possibilities for new initiatives to highlight the range of circumstances and explore solutions.

The articles in this special issue address distinctive challenges and opportunities faced by those in early, middle, and later adulthood. Psychosocial resources for dealing with vulnerabilities such as loneliness, economic loss, unemployment, loss or illness of loved ones, retirement, age discrimination, and aging-related declines are discussed.

The special issue considers how social disparities and stress are increasing and affecting mental and physical health. The articles address risk and resilience in the face of economic, physical, and mental health challenges.

Although the articles were written and accepted for publication before the COVID-19 pandemic, the content of the special issue is relevant for the post-COVID-19 world of adult development; these themes are likely to ring true as adults of all ages face many of these issues going forward.

Note: This article is in the Core of Psychology topic area. View more articles in the Core of Psychology topic area.

Arnett, J. J., Robinson, O., & Lachman, M. E. (2020). Rethinking adult development: Introduction to the special issue. American Psychologist, 75(4), 425–430. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000633opens in new window

Jeffrey Jensen Arnettopens in new window is a senior research scholar at Clark University and executive director of the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthoodopens in new window (SSEA). He has published widely on emerging adulthood as well as on the psychology of globalization and adolescent risk behavior.

Margie E. Lachmanopens in new window is the Minnie and Harold Fierman Professor of Psychology at Brandeis University. She is director of the Lifespan Development Lab and the Boston Roybal Center for Active Lifestyle Interventions. Her research focuses on optimizing physical, cognitive, and psychological health in middle and later adulthood.

Oliver C. Robinsonopens in new window is senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Greenwich, president of the European Society for Research in Adult Development, and author of Development through Adulthood. His research focuses on how aging, life transitions and crises affect identity, curiosity, wellbeing, and spirituality.