Tapsmo suaugusiuoju ženklai Lietuvos jaunuolių imtyje

Abstract

Accepting responsibility for the consequences of one’s actions was viewed as the most necessary criterion for becoming an adult. Being capable of caring for children was the next most highly endorsed criterion for both women and men. The next most important criteria were “avoid drunk driving” (87.1%), “avoid committing petty crimes like vandalism and shoplifting” (82.9%), “decide on personal beliefs and values independently of parents or other influences” (82.0%), “become capable of keeping family physically safe (men)” (81.8%), “if a man, become capable of supporting a family financially” (81.3%), “if a woman, become capable of running a household” (80.2%) and “financially independent from parents” (79.5%). Role transitions, on the other hand, were endorsed only by about a third of the study participants. Taken together, the results suggest that becoming an adult among Lithuanian emerging adults, similarly to other Western countries, is perceived primarily as the acquisition of certain character qualities rather than going through role changes. However, contrary to Arnett’s findings with the US samples, capacities to maintain family responsibilities seem to be more important than achieving independence and self-sufficiency.