1.76. Adulthood and Aging http://www.ck12.org
1.76 Adulthood and Aging
- Describe the stages of adulthood.
What does adulthood mean to you?
You might think sometimes that you can’t wait to be an adult! In adulthood you have greater freedom, but you also
have greater responsibilities. Like this man, you might have a house and children to take care of.
Adulthood
When is a person considered an adult? That depends. Most teens become physically mature by the age of 16 or so.
But they are not adults in a legal sense until they are older. For example, in the U.S., you must be 18 to vote. Once
adulthoodbegins, it can be divided into three stages: (1) early, (2) middle, and (3) late adulthood.
Early Adulthood
Early adulthoodstarts at age 18 or 21. It continues until the mid-30s. During early adulthood, people are at their
physical peak. They are also usually in good health. The ability to have children is greatest during early adulthood,
as well.
This is the stage of life when most people complete their education. They are likely to begin a career or take a
full-time job. Many people also marry and start a family during early adulthood.
Middle Adulthood
Middle adulthoodbegins in the mid-30s. It continues until the mid-60s.