先進国における成人期への移行の実態

イギリスの例から

抄録

This article reviews studies on the post-adolescence period, mainly from the UK, and highlights recent developments in the field. The article considers the significance of the lengthening of the transition period to adulthood and various problems that have been associated with this phenomenon. It describes research methods in the area and the related context of some of these methods. John Coleman points out that the developed countries have seen a number of profound social and economic changes affecting youth since the 1980s, the most important being in the areas of the family and employment. Since these are two of the major factors in the “transition to adulthood, ” research and policies are now being focused more specifically on these particular areas. Taking this into an account, the article first examines the EU's policies in this area. The examination focuses on the acknowledgement of the right of young people to become independent from their parents and to build their own lives (the right to have an independent life). It also examines the ways in which the social policies have become more specific in trying to make the transition to adulthood easier for youth by introducing policies focused on areas such as employment, education and training, family, housing and social security. The article then examines recent research on the transition period and attempts to identify changes in the actual problems of the transition that are studied, as well as the research methods used. The result of this examination shows some new characteristics in research methods, namely inter-disciplinary and holistic approaches, and more process focused longitudinal studies. Another notable characteristic that has emerged is the innate desire of individual youth to act and develop. Finally, the article reviews the findings of “Youth Programmes, ” a large-scale research project funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.