<P> When Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 are asked whether they believe they have reached adulthood, most do not answer with a "no" or a "yes", but answer with "In some respects yes, in some respects no". It is clear from this ambiguity that most emerging adults in the United States feel they have completed adolescence but not yet entered adulthood . </P> <P> A number of studies have shown that regarding people in their late teens and early twenties in the United States, demographic qualities such as completing their education, finding a career, getting married, and becoming parents are not the criteria used in determining whether they have reached adulthood . Rather, the criteria that determine whether adulthood has been reached are character qualities, such as being able to make independent decisions and taking responsibility for one's self . In America, these character qualities are usually experienced in the mid to late twenties, thus confirming that emerging adulthood is distinct subjectively . </P> <P> Emerging adulthood is the sole age period where there is nothing that is demographically consistent . At this time, adolescents in the United States up to age 20, over 95% live at home with at least one parent, 98% are not married, under 10% have become parents, and more than 95% attend school . Similarly, people in their thirties are also demographically normative: 75% are married, 75% are parents, and under 10% attend school . Residential status and school attendance are two reasons that the period of emerging adulthood is incredibly distinct demographically . Regarding residential status, emerging adults in the United States have very diverse living situations . About one third of emerging adults attend college and spend a few years living independently while partially relying on adults . </P> <P> Contrastingly, 40% of emerging adults do not attend college but live independently and work full - time . Finally, around two - thirds of emerging adults in the United States cohabitate with a romantic partner . Regarding school attendance, emerging adults are extremely diverse in their educational paths (Arnett, 2000, p. 470 - 471). Over 60% of emerging adults in the United States enter college or university the year after they graduate from high school . However, the years that follow college are extremely diverse--only about 32% of 25 - to 29 - year - olds have finished four or more years of college . </P>

Who is undergoing a normative transition in the u.s. at this time in history
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