From Adolescence to Adulthood: Are U.S. Young Adults Flourishing?

<div>This project includes data and do-files used to conduct a now-published study:

<span><b>Changes
in flourishing from adolescence to young adulthood: An 8-year follow-up.</b><span><br>
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Most research on mental health among
adolescents and young adults concentrates on understanding mental illness.
However, mental health is more than the absence of mental illness. Among
adolescents and young adults, positive mental health—a combination of emotional,
social, and psychological well-being— is related to higher prosocial behavior,
school integration, and self-concept (Keyes, 2006). However, much of the
research on positive mental health among young adults has been with college
students. Limited research has examined the presence and correlates of positive
mental health, or flourishing, among a nationally representative sample of U.S.
young adults. This study extended Keyes (2006) original examination of positive
mental health among U.S. adolescents to describe the prevalence of flourishing
among these same individuals in young adulthood. Our sample included 1,090 individuals
from the 2011 Panel Study of Income Dynamics Transition into Adulthood
Supplement. Univariate and bivariate tests were used to describe the prevalence
of flourishing during young adulthood and changes from adolescence to young
adulthood. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the
relationships among indicators of healthy development and flourishing. Results
suggest that flourishing improved during the transition into young adulthood
and that targeting factors like life skills and civic engagement may enhance
flourishing.

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