Economic insecurity and separation-individuation in emerging adults: The mediating role of self-esteem and depression

Abstract

Scholars have widely agreed that the transition to adulthood has become destandardized and more extended in time. Although this prolonged transition to adulthood is common in late-modern societies, it is not universal, and the pathways towards adulthood may vary according to contextual factors and personal resources. This study examined the association between perceived economic insecurity and the process of separation–individuation regarding the romantic partner, and explored the mediating role of personal resources (self-esteem, depression). Participants were 387 Portuguese emerging adults (mean age = 22.32 years; SD = 3.47) involved in a romantic relationship, from different economic and cultural backgrounds. Findings revealed that self-esteem and depressive symptoms totally mediated the relationship between economic insecurity and separation–individuation, with higher levels of self-esteem and lower levels of depression being associated with a more successful process of separation–individuation. This study contributes to shed some light on the interaction between developmental processes and social context variables in the transition to adulthood.