Psychosocial competencies during the transition to adulthood: Trajectories and covariates

• Author / Creator

  Vargas Lascano, Dayuma Ixchel

• This study modeled trajectories of four psychosocial competencies (autonomy, industry, identity, and intimacy) across four years of university and year-to-year covariation of these competencies with typical student experiences (living away from parents, academic performance, dating, and alcohol use) in 195 Canadian students. Analyses revealed that, on average, autonomy and identity did not change over time. Accounting for gender differences, however, revealed some linear changes across time for these competencies. Industry and intimacy showed curvilinear trajectories of change. Year-to-year, students reported higher autonomy and identity when living away from their parents and when getting higher grades. They also reported higher industry when getting higher grades. When students dated they reported higher identity and intimacy; dating women also reported higher autonomy than dating men. When dating students reported higher intimacy they reported higher perceived affection within their romantic relationships. Possible mechanisms for the observed patterns and their implications are discussed.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Psychosocial development
  • Transition to adulthood

• Graduation date

  Fall 2010

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3MW8F

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.