Delayed Asian transitions to adulthood: A perspective from national youth surveys

Abstract

Important events in the transition to adulthood are examined for young men and women in six Asian societies. Broad description of the pattern of many events is followed by a detailed consideration of event-sequences among school-leaving, home-leaving and entrance to marriage. The recent Asian experience is set against recent patterns in Western societies, and broad similarities and differences are noted. In both sets of countries there is clear evidence of significant delay in the key transitional events, many of which are being pushed into the third decade of life. Also in both regions there is evidence of a high demographic density of events in the central years of transition. The standardization of individual event distributions may not be occurring in the Asian countries examined, but there is clear evidence of individuation or a rising diversity of sequences or paths taken. Suggestions are offered regarding themes for future research on Asian adulthood transitions, in light of ongoing, market-led globalization.