Background: The transition from adolescence to adulthood has increasingly become a prolonged and complex process, shaped by an intricate web of economic, cultural, psychological, and technological factors in the modern contemporary context.
Aim: This endeavour seeks to illuminate the intricate interplay of multifarious factors that contribute to the enduring postponement of adulthood responsibilities among the adolescents of the present generation.
Materials and Methods: A literature search using keywords like ‘Prolonged Adolescence’ and ‘Delayed Adulthood’ was conducted in March 2025 through reputable academic platforms such as PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate. Relevant studies were carefully selected, organized, scrutinised and assimilated. As no primary data were involved, ethical clearance was not contemplated. Key findings of the work have been presented graphically in the results section.
Results: This research unveils the complex factors contributing to prolonged transition to adulthood, extending beyond economic explanations including shifting societal norms, evolving family structures, and redefining measures of success. It highlights influences such as educational inflation, globalization, parental involvement, and advances in health and life expectancy. Emphasizing the concept of ‘Waithood and Risk’, Aversion, the study calls for flexible support systems and policies that accommodate diverse life paths, advocating for a more inclusive understanding of modern adulthood and a more supportive environment for emerging adults.
Conclusion: Institutions and societies must embrace diverse, non-linear pathways to adulthood by promoting inclusive education, supportive policies, and empathetic narratives that empower young adults to navigate their journeys with resilience, robustness and autonomy.
