대학생의 성인모색기 인식과 부정적 정서의 관계*

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the extent to which Emerging Adulthood, proposed by Arnett, is experienced by university students and how it is related to to negative emotions. To achieve this aim, the data of 244 aged 19-29 university students was utilized. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and correlation analyses were conducted, and results were as follows. First, the results demonstrate the applicability of the five dimensions of emerging adulthood; respondents tended to agree more on that this is a period of identity exploration, of instability, of feeling in-between, and an age of possibilities. and tended to agree less on that this is a period of focus on others. Second, the results revealed that certain socioeconomic factors, including sex, age, grade, economic activity and a leave of absence, were significantly related to emerging adulthood experience. Third, overall emerging adulthood experience and negative emotions showed significant correlations. .‘A period of instability’ and ‘a period of feeling in-between’ showed positive correlations, and ‘a period of identity exploration’ and ‘an age of possibilities’ showed negative correlations. This study examined whether the emerging adulthood perception and negative emotions of university students were related. Results of the study can help increasing counselor’s understanding on this relatively new concept of developmental stage and can be distinguishably used as basis for effective intervention and establishing counselling and education programs.