ScholarWorks@숙명여자대학교

초록

This study phenomenologically explored the adjustment experiences of young people preparing for independence during emerging adulthood and examined how their experiences align with or differ from Arnett’s (2000) concept of emerging adulthood. In-depth interviews with twelve individuals aged 20 to 24 were analyzed using Colaizzi’s (1978) method. Six themes were identified: emotional isolation in ‘The Coldness of the World I Learned Too Early’, early responsibility in ‘Being Crushed by Burden and Guilt’, interpersonal fatigue in ‘The Fatigue That Comes from Relationships’, ambivalence in ‘The Double-Edged Sword of Independence’, self-directed career formation in ‘Becoming the Subject of My Own Career’, and resilience in ‘Living On Nonetheless’. These experiences reflected characteristics of emerging adulthood such as identity exploration and self-focus, while also revealing distinct features including early acceptance of adult roles, morally grounded perceptions of adulthood, and identity formation shaped by external conditions. The findings provide a contextual understanding of the adjustment experiences of young people preparing for independence and suggest practical implications for developmentally grounded support and career-related interventions.

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