What Do Marginalized Emerging Adults Receiving Inpatient Treatment Think of Emerging Adulthood Theory?: A Qualitative Study

Background and Purpose: Substance use is the most common between the ages of 18 to 25 years of age and approximately one in 12 young adults meet criteria for a substance use disorder (NSDUH, 2010). The alarming statistics exemplify the importance of creating tailored programs and interventions for this age group. To do so, first understanding how emerging adults are transitioning from depending on a caregiver to obtaining independence must be understood; specifically, how the transition from adolescence to adulthood transpires through the emerging adulthood years. Understanding this transitional period can assist with modifying interventions to acknowledge the stressful, instable, and difficult life alteration that coincides with high-risk behaviors, such as risky substance use, which are often intertwined throughout this time.

 Methods: Twenty-one in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with emerging adults (22 to 29 years old; average 25.47) who completed a minimum of 30 days (range 26 to 169 days; average 56.8) in an inpatient substance abuse treatment center in a Midwestern state. These emerging adults were diagnosed with a severe substance use disorder. The sample is predominantly male (66% male; 33% female) and predominantly Caucasian, with only one person identifying as African American/Black. The average age of substance use onset was 12.61 years old (SD=2.78, range: 7-17). Participants were recruited via posted flyers and word of mouth at the agency. Interviews consisted of questions regarding their beliefs of why substance use is most common during this life stage and experiences and opinions about Jeffrey Arnett’s (2000) Emerging Adulthood framework. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded thematically using NVivo qualitative software, by the principles of Grounded Theory; using an inductive approach to analyze the detailed qualitative data. In addition, consistent research team meetings were held to discuss codes and themes throughout analysis.

 Findings: The thematic results lend support to Arnett’s (2000) five characteristics of emerging adulthood (i.e., identity exploration, instability, self-focus, feeling in between, and optimism), as most participants related to the 5 proposed characteristics. In addition, participants explained the high prevalence of substance use among emerging adults as being due to increased freedom, pressure from others, self-medication, and childhood experiences. Thus, the major departure from Arnett’s theory was thematic content on using to cope with unsettled emotions/self-medicating.

Conclusions and Implications:  Highly marginalized emerging adults in treatment for severe substance use disorders endorse many features of Arnett’s (2000) Emerging Adulthood framework. Yet, they also construct narratives about using drugs to cope with unpleasant emotions and adverse childhood experiences.  Thus, age appropriate-tailored interventions may consider addressing the developmental experience of emerging adulthood, coping motives to use substances, and unresolved trauma.