The Dynamic Interdependence of Developmental Domains Across Emerging Adulthood

Emerging adulthood is a period in which profound role changes take place across a number of life domains including finance, romance, and residence. On the basis of dynamic systems theory, change in one domain should be related to change in another domain, because the concept of development according to this approach is a relational one. To evaluate this hypothesis dynamic systems analysis was applied to data from narrative interviews of 200 respondents covering the years between 17 and 27 to examine how change in one domain affects change in another domain. In each dyad, the fit of the model significantly deteriorated when the coupling between domains was removed providing support for the assumption of interdependency. On average, assuming greater responsibility in one domain was associated with assuming greater responsibility in the other domain. However, imbalances were also observed in which role assumption in one domain far exceeded role assumption in another domain. These imbalances can have detrimental effects and indicate the utility of a balanced approach to development. The findings underscore the importance of studying the relational unit between domains, which is critical to understanding development over time within domains. Post-Doctoral Research fellow in Geriatric Neuro-Psychiatry at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He received his PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and his major research interests include statistical methods for evaluating psychiatric nosology, late-life depression, and the stability and change of personality and personality disorders across the lifespan. Research Scientist at the University of Virginia. He received his PhD in Quantitative Psychology at the University of Virginia. His primary interests are in longitudinal data and applying dynamical concepts to structural equation modeling and multilevel methodology. Professor of Psychology at the University of Southern California. He received his PhD in Psychology at Hofstra University. He is principal investigator of the NIA funded National Growth and Change Study and has primary interests in the dynamics of cognitive ability over life span with special emphasis on longitudinal research designs, methodology, and statistical modeling. Research Scientist at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Professor of Public Health (Epidemiology) in Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Columbia University School of Public Health. She received her PhD in social psychology at New York University. Major interests include quantitative methodology and statistics, developmental psychopathology, and lifespan development. Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. in Biostatistics in China. His research interests include epidemiological studies, quality of life, and multivariate statistical methods.