TY - JOUR
T1 - Criteria for adulthood, resilience, and self-esteem among emerging adults in Hong Kong
T2 - A path analysis approach
AU - YANG, Shuyan
AU - NG, Petrus Y N
AU - CHIU, Renee
AU - Li, Sean Shuying
AU - Klassen, Robert M.
AU - SU, Susan Xiqing
N1 - Funding Information:
The study received financial support from Research Grants Council, General Research Fund (GRF247912). The sponsors hold no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of study results, manuscript submission, or article publication.
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - Emerging adulthood refers to a developmental life stage between adolescence and adulthood. The period of emerging adulthood varies in pattern in different cultures and countries. For emerging adults, individual perceptions about entering into adulthood undergo tremendous changes. Furthermore, the impact of criteria for adulthood on psychological well-being in emerging adults is under-researched. Using a survey of 1,908 Hong Kong emerging adults aged 18–29 years, an integrated path model for self-esteem with resilience was established (TLI = 0.986; NFI = 0.991; CFI = 0.996; RMSEA = 0.021; SRMR = 0.018). The results show that resilience mediated the effects of family capacity (BetaFC-resilience–SE = 0.03, p < .05, BC bootstrap 95% CI = 0.00 to 0.08) and relational maturity (BetaRM-resilience –SE = 0.12, p < .001, BC bootstrap 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.15) on self-esteem. Role transformation was found to have a negative direct effect on self-esteem (BetaRT-resilience = −0.10, p < .001, BC bootstrap 95% CI = −0.15 to −0.05). However, norm compliance, biological transition, and legal transition were not associated with self-esteem or resilience among the sampled emerging adults. In addition, resilience mediated the relationship between gender, educational attainment, and parental educational level and self-esteem. Policymakers and social workers in Hong Kong should pay attention to criteria for adulthood among emerging adults, and tailor-made interventions and educational programs should be launched for parents and school teachers. For instance, training in knowledge of late adolescence and the characteristics of emerging adults should be implemented. Programs to enhance such positive traits as resilience and self-esteem among emerging adults in Hong Kong should be provided.
AB - Emerging adulthood refers to a developmental life stage between adolescence and adulthood. The period of emerging adulthood varies in pattern in different cultures and countries. For emerging adults, individual perceptions about entering into adulthood undergo tremendous changes. Furthermore, the impact of criteria for adulthood on psychological well-being in emerging adults is under-researched. Using a survey of 1,908 Hong Kong emerging adults aged 18–29 years, an integrated path model for self-esteem with resilience was established (TLI = 0.986; NFI = 0.991; CFI = 0.996; RMSEA = 0.021; SRMR = 0.018). The results show that resilience mediated the effects of family capacity (BetaFC-resilience–SE = 0.03, p < .05, BC bootstrap 95% CI = 0.00 to 0.08) and relational maturity (BetaRM-resilience –SE = 0.12, p < .001, BC bootstrap 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.15) on self-esteem. Role transformation was found to have a negative direct effect on self-esteem (BetaRT-resilience = −0.10, p < .001, BC bootstrap 95% CI = −0.15 to −0.05). However, norm compliance, biological transition, and legal transition were not associated with self-esteem or resilience among the sampled emerging adults. In addition, resilience mediated the relationship between gender, educational attainment, and parental educational level and self-esteem. Policymakers and social workers in Hong Kong should pay attention to criteria for adulthood among emerging adults, and tailor-made interventions and educational programs should be launched for parents and school teachers. For instance, training in knowledge of late adolescence and the characteristics of emerging adults should be implemented. Programs to enhance such positive traits as resilience and self-esteem among emerging adults in Hong Kong should be provided.
KW - Criteria for adulthood
KW - Emerging adults
KW - Path analysis
KW - Resilience
KW - Self-esteem
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85094584728&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105607
DO - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105607
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85094584728
SN - 0190-7409
VL - 119
JO - Children and Youth Services Review
JF - Children and Youth Services Review
M1 - 105607
ER -
