Is 25 the new cut-off point for adulthood?

[klr]

Adolescence now effectively runs up until the age of 25 for the purposes of treating young people. So is this the new cut-off point for adulthood?

"The idea that suddenly at 18 you're an adult just doesn't quite ring true," says child psychologist Laverne Antrobus, who works at London's Tavistock Clinic.

"My experience of young people is that they still need quite a considerable amount of support and help beyond that age."

Child psychologists are being given a new directive which is that the age range they work with is increasing from 0-18 to 0-25.

"We are becoming much more aware and appreciating development beyond [the age of 18] and I think it's a really good initiative," says Antrobus, who believes we often rush through childhood, wanting our youngsters to achieve key milestones very quickly.

The new guidance is to help ensure that when young people reach the age of 18 they do not fall through the gaps in the health and education system. The change follows developments in our understanding of emotional maturity, hormonal development and particularly brain activity.

"Neuroscience has made these massive advances where we now don't think that things just stop at a certain age, that actually there's evidence of brain development well into early twenties and that actually the time at which things stop is much later than we first thought," says Antrobus.

There are three stages of adolescence - early adolescence from 12-14 years, middle adolescence from 15-17 years and late adolescence from 18 years and over.

Neuroscience has shown that a young person's cognitive development continues into this later stage and that their emotional maturity, self-image and judgement will be affected until the prefrontal cortex of the brain has fully developed.

Alongside brain development, hormonal activity is also continuing well into the early twenties says Antrobus.

"A number of children and young people I encounter between the age of 16 and 18, the flurry of hormonal activity in them is so great that to imagine that's going to settle down by the time they get to 18 really is a misconception," says Antrobus.

Continued (at length): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24173194

[MrJonno]

People don't get married till they are 30, buy a house until mid 30's to 40's and live to 80 so whats the rush

[Bella Fortuna]

I learned the other day that our medical insurance coverage for "dependents" continues to age 25 now, assuming the kid is living with you and in school. Why, I remember back in the old days when you became a legal adult at 18 and you were chucked out to fend for yourself in the wilds of insuranceland! These kids today don't know how good they have it!

[Tyrannical]

In ancient Greece, you weren't an adult until 28.

[tattuchu]

I'm fifty and I don't feel like an adult

[cronus]

Nothing against old people having kids but this does introduce the risk of genetic defects and over a number of generations those risks will be accumulative making for a weakened population with more inheritable illness and less natural resilience against various diseases. It is a solution to a ageing population that carries the seeds of its own destruction. The youth today may be content to be infantilised but tomorrow they might wake up to the game - especially if food costs rise making staying with 'mum and dad' as little more than human pets no longer such a good deal.

[Svartalf]

In ancient Greece, you weren't an adult until 28.

and in Rome, you could go to the army at 17, but you weren't eligible for office till you were at least 30.

[Bella Fortuna]

In ancient Greece, you weren't an adult until 28.

and in Rome, you could go to the army at 17, but you weren't eligible for office till you were at least 30.

Wow, imagining not having to drudge away in an office until you're 30.... bliss!

[Svartalf]

You'd rather be a soldier in Legio IIL Helmandica?

[Clinton Huxley]

The office stapler is sharper than the sword...

[Mysturji]

I'm fifty and I don't feel like an adult

And I hope I never do.

[Audley Strange]

I suppose the more we culturally condition ourselves to devalue maturity while at the same time increasing longevity there is no real urgency for adolescence to end; other than perhaps a sense of dignity, which itself seems as archaic as black and white televisions and smallpox.

[JimC]

I'm fifty and I don't feel like an adult

Personally, I feel like a teenager...
















But I've been trying to give them up...

[Bella Fortuna]

Badum-bloody-tish.

[Blind groper]

In Britain, 21 was considered the age of maturity, because (on average) a man was not strong enough to fight in full armour before then.

Let's face it. Whatever age we choose is essentially guesswork. What the hell. Here in NZ, it is legal to bonk each other at age 16. The brain is not mature till about 25. Optimising sporting ability by age varies from sport to sport with swimmers young and marathon runners much older. Take a punt and make your best guess.