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The Paradox of Choice in Emerging Adulthood: Anxiety and Ambivalence

McMillin, Jennifer
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1499426843058909

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, Sociology.
Research in the last twenty years has characterized the life course stage of emerging adulthood as a time of unparalleled freedom and an abundance of choice. Few researchers, however, have addressed the darker side to emerging adulthood, including the effects an abundance of choice might have on emerging adults’ mental health. I drew from existing theory to examine how ambivalence associated with too much choice within the markers of adulthood influenced anxiety. Using data from the fifth interview of The Toledo Adolescent Relationship Study (TARS), I used ordinary least squares regression to examine whether the markers of adulthood, and the choices associated with the markers of adulthood including full-time employment, education completion, sustaining an intimate relationship, and living independently from parents influenced anxiety. Additionally, I examined whether social psychological processes of ambivalence, perceived control, and subjective adulthood mediated the relationship between markers of adulthood and anxiety. The only marker of adulthood found to be significantly and positively associated with anxiety in all models was relationship churning, suggesting that wavering in markers of adulthood is more important in terms of anxiety than actually completing or not completing the markers. Ambivalence sustained a significant and positive relationship with anxiety. Likewise, perceived control, and subjective adulthood remained significantly and negatively associated with anxiety. Ambivalence was found to be moderately high in the sample, and in the initial model which added ambivalence, was found to account for the positive relationship of mother’s education being more than high school and anxiety.
Monica Longmore, Ph.D (Committee Chair)
Wendy Manning, Ph.D (Committee Member)
Peggy Giordano, Ph.D (Committee Member)
52 p.
Sociology
Anxiety; Ambivalence; Emerging Adulthood; Choice; Sociology; Social Psychology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McMillin, J. (2017). The Paradox of Choice in Emerging Adulthood: Anxiety and Ambivalence [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1499426843058909

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McMillin, Jennifer. The Paradox of Choice in Emerging Adulthood: Anxiety and Ambivalence . 2017. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1499426843058909.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McMillin, Jennifer. "The Paradox of Choice in Emerging Adulthood: Anxiety and Ambivalence ." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1499426843058909

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1499426843058909
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© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.