Life stages: Young adulthood
Introduction
Young adulthood, covering the period in which most people become increasingly independent of their parents and make the career and lifestyle choices that will guide the remainder of their adult life (approximately 18-30); The Healthy Lives, Health People quotes that "Changing adult's behaviour could reduce premature death, illness and costs to society spent on tackling drug-fuelled crime, avoiding a great proportion of cancers, vascular dementias and over 30% of circulatory diseases."
Young adulthood concentrates on the period between the attainment of adulthood and entering into a settled relationship, parenthood and living as part of a family.
18-29 year olds are generally a group that enjoys good health and makes little use of health and social care services but are also typified by risky health behaviours. It is a stage of life in which serious and enduring mental health problems are likely to emerge. It is a period when health behaviours that may have long term negative impacts (smoking, heavy drinking, lack of physical exercise, poor diet) are likely to become entrenched
