154 Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan
for economic reasons or because they were not socialized into their use or
lacked the requisite access and leisure time (Bobkowski & Smith, 2013).
Regardless, relationship loss at this age is often a disenfranchised loss
and breakups of romantic relationships are frequently followed by intense
grief (Robak & Wietzman, 1994). When friends and family members react to
the breakup as merely an expected part of growing up, the meaning of the
loss is minimized (Robak & Wietzman, 1994). Recent findings link higher
levels of trait anger with “a thwarted sense of belongingness” and a “sense
of being burdensome” as risk factors for suicide (Hawkins et al., 2014, p. 60)
and these factors may all come together more commonly after a romantic
breakup.
Notably, the identity issues noted above involving moratorium or
achieved identities in emerging adulthood (as well as diffuse or foreclosed
identities as per Marcia, 1966) seem to interact with emerging adults’ roman-
tic relationships (Johnson, Kent, & Yale, 2012). Women in any of the iden-
tity categories other than moratorium reported higher relationship intimacy
while male emerging adults with foreclosed or achieved identity tended to
report higher levels of relationship intimacy—indicating that women still
exploring identity were less likely to engage in high intimacy relationships
while men who had committed to identity earlier were more likely to be
competently intimate. For those who have established identity (via achieve-
ment or foreclosure), romantic partnerships seem to be easier and to create
a greater sense of well-being (Johnson et al., 2012).Substance Use Disorders
Emerging adults are engaging in illicit substance use at ever-greater rates,
with marijuana use likely driving the pace. Monthly rates of illicit drug use
have risen among 18 to 25 year olds from 19.6% in 2008 to 21.2% in 2009
and they hit 21.5% in 2010 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, 2010). Neurobiology seems to make emerging adults more
vulnerable to substance use disorders (SUDS) (Weiland et al., 2014) both
due to their attraction to the use substances as well as the potential of
substances to damage the developing brain. In a review of factors associ-
ated with SUDS, stressful life events like the death of a parent or the end
of a romantic relationship were shown to enhance the likelihood of SUDS
(Stone, Becker, Huber, & Catalano, 2012). Social context is also associated
with SUDS in complex ways as suggested by Zinberg’s classic treatise on
“drug, set, and setting” (Zinberg, 1986). In any event, substance use and
abuse tend to develop or intensify during the emerging adulthood stage
that provides more freedom (and legal permission to use in the case of alco-
hol), yet is not associated with the roles of spouse, parent, and worker that
often mitigate SUDS.
When emerging adults develop SUDS, they often lose self-sufficiency.
Additionally, they are typically exposed to a high degree of social stigma that
disqualifies them from societally valued positions and may actually reinforce
their problem (Room, 2005). Depending on the level of use, they may also lose
their health and the delay of developmental tasks may have lifelong ill effects.