Results and Discussion

TYPES OF EXPERIENCING THE CRISIS OF TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD

Sivrikova N. V.

Abstract

The research presents a typology of living through the crisis of transition to adulthood. On the basis of cluster analysis of data, received by means of normative crisis symptoms checklist, semantic differential, PIL test (by D.A.Leontiev), the questionnaire of terminal values and “Life satisfaction” method (by N.N.Melnikov), three types of living through the normative crisis of transition to adulthood were distinguished: optimal, anxiodepressive and defensive. The analysis of research’s results allows to set out the ways of psychological follow-up of a person in the crisis of transition to adulthood depending on individual peculiarities.

Keywords: crisis of transition to adulthood; the types of experiences crisis; values and meaning-of-life orientations, temporary transspective.

Introduction.

Researching the problem of normative maturation crises is relevant due to the need to develop the strategy of age specific counseling for the adults. Upon on the latest research, there have been stated out the structure, the subject-matter and the dynamics of normative crises of adult [1; 8; 9; 10]. Alongside, counseling the individual overcoming the crisis should be focused not only on the general characteristics of the crisis, but also on its subjective forms. Thus, just a few researchers would analyze the behavior of adults overcoming maturation crisis. The authors of the article are mostly concentrated on the 30-years crisis [2; 3]. Therefore, in our work we have tried to empirically determine the types of experiencing the crisis of transition to adulthood (the 20-years crisis).

Purpose: to determine types of experiencing the crisis of transition to adulthood.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved 253 people aged 17 to 24 years; 155 of them were females, and 98 were males. People participated in the study were Arts School students.

To collect empiric data we used the following methods: checklist of symptoms of regulatory crises (N.V. Sivrikova) [7]; semantic differential, test of life orientations (D.A. Leontiev) [4]; checklist of terminal values, “Life satisfaction” method (N.N. Melnikova) [5].

Results and Discussion

Using N.V. Sivrikova’s method [7] there have been filtered out individuals in the state of acute crisis (117 in total).

Next, we performed the hierarchical cluster analysis using Ward's method.

The role of indicator to degree the similarity of study participants performed the squared Euclidean distance. With the results of cluster analysis we divided people in the state of 20-years crisis into three groups (table 1).

To identify the groups we compared the average trends reflecting the crisis symptoms, life satisfaction level, axiological and rational orientation and time transspective of individuals within the groups. Mathematical research was performed using Kruskal-Wallis test.

The first crisis type is titled “optimal”, as this group associates with people in the state of favorable prognosis of crisis accommodation. These individuals comparing to the other groups are characterized by minimal activity dissatisfaction (р≤ 0, 05) and average terminal evaluation (р≤ 0, 001). The most preferable values for this type are reputation, active social life, personal achievements and high income; whereas the spiritual satisfaction is less valued (picture 1).

Symbols: СП - reputation, ВМП – high income, К - creativity, АСК – active social life,	РС – self-evolution, Д – personal achievements, ДУ – spiritual satisfaction, ССИ – individuality maintenance
Picture1. Evaluation orientation in different types of experiencing the 20-years crisis

As shown on the Picture 2, the first-type representatives perform higher level of life meaning and sense orientation, then the rest two groups (р≤ 0, 05). The structure of such orientation is the same for both first-type individuals and individuals in the post-crisis phase. We earlier have proved that individuals who overcame 20-years crisis were mostly focused on the process rather than on goals and results [8].

Symbols: Ц – goals П – process Р - result	ЛКЯ – locus of control I ЛКЖ – locus of control Life
Picture 2. Life meaning and sense orientation for the different types of experiencing the 20-years crisis

Picture 3 shows positive attitude to the events in the past, present and future in the “optimal” 20-years crisis phase; which outlines the group from the rest two types that are mostly characterized by focus on the present events (р≤ 0, 01).

Picture 3. Attitude to the past, present and future events at any type of 20-years crisis experiencing

So we conclude that living for today, self-confidence and the desire to achieve are to be the main features to characterize favorable crisis accomodation among individuals of the “optimal” phase.

The second type of crisis accommodation was titled “Anxiodepressive”. The most common feature of people of this type is the low life satisfaction. Such individuals are constantly tired, devastated and frustrated.

The major part of the students in the group takes the classes they do not want. They do not consider their current majors to become their future professions. This could be a reason why these individuals are in the state of crisis more, then the rest two types (р≤ 0, 05), and more dissatisfied with what they do in their lives (р≤ 0, 05). People that fall under this group are in need of psychological counseling. Current crisis accommodation problems are caused by the dissolved problems in their previous development stage (youth).

Their strong point is the high estimate of terminal values ​ ​ compared to the other groups under consideration (р≤ 0, 001). Thus, in the list of major values they outline reputation and individuality maintenance. Sticking to these two values at the same time might lead to the intrapersonal conflict, as there appears confrontation between two opposite tendencies: the approval of others and independence.

Anxiodepressive type is characterized by low life satisfaction (р≤ 0, 01). Its time transspective is mostly focused on the future and dissatisfied with the present and the past.

Thus, we conclude that anxiodepressive type of 20-years crisis accommodation is characterized with increased anxiety and dissatisfaction, low level of life meaning and sense and focusing on the future. People of that type while accommodating the crisis might overcome intrapersonal conflicts.

The third crisis experiencing type is titled “Defensive”. People of this type, unlike the rest two types, cope with the crisis on their own (р≤ 0, 05). Even in the state of crisis these people are friendly and conflict-free.

Having analyzed axiological and notional spheres of thinking people of this type perform (Picture 1) we noticed that terminal values under research are less important for them. “Reputation” and “High income” are outlined, whereas “self-development” is far less important. Such condition indicates unfavorable experiencing of normative crisis, as to evolve and get education means to live full of sense life the one is satisfied with [11]. This is partly supported by the fact this group's life comprehension level is lower than that of the optimal type but higher than that of the anxiodepressed type (р≤ 0, 01).

Unlike the rest two types, defensive group’s another feature is goal orientation. Upon A.V. Seriy and A.V. Yupitov studying, such locus of meaning orientation works as the defensive mechanism often by belief in compensatory illusory reality in rationalizing phenomena of objective reality and reacting back on the outside offensive type [6].

Students of the third type underestimate the past, the present and the future (Picture 3). Plus, the present is less important to them. We should know that such condition might lead the frustration improvement; and so, the crisis accommodation might grow to anxiodepressive stage. Thus, their beliefs are not based on terminal values; so they should create their own values hierarchy in the first place.