Some ideas on the emerging future of developmental research.

We are somewhat critical of the concept of emerging adulthood as a new developmental stage in modern industrial societies, and prefer the idea of systemic mechanisms and processes as the forces and factors that influence the transitions and transformations of human change across the life course. For this reason, we are pleased to see this volume is entirely dedicated to the life-phase of emerging adulthood in Mediterranean countries, suggesting that researchers are not convinced that the characteristics of emerging adulthood would be the same for young people from different cultures. While we are very positive towards this series of articles showing that emerging adulthood in Mediterranean countries has similarities, and, yet differences to other cultures, and appreciate the diverse findings of these research projects, we would want to suggest some new and more radical strategies for future developmental research. Concretely, a move away from age-bound, stage models towards a more dynamic and systemic approach to lifespan research, simply because we cannot ignore both the past and the future, whilst contemplating the present.

Victimización escolar: Clima familiar, autoestima y satisfacción con la vida desde una perspectiva de género / School victimization: Family environment, self-esteem, and life satisfaction from a gender perspective

En este estudio se analizan en una muestra de adolescentes escolarizados las relaciones entre la percepción del clima familiar y la victimización por los iguales en la escuela junto con la autoestima y la satisfacción con la vida, teniendo en cuenta el género. Las relaciones entre las variables se han analizado en una muestra constituida por 1.884 adolescentes (52% chicos y 48% chicas) escolarizados en centros educativos de secundaria con edades comprendidas entre los 11 y los 17 años (M = 13.7, DT = 1.4). Los resultados del análisis de un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales muestran que la percepción del clima familiar, la autoestima y la satisfacción con la vida se relacionan de forma significativa y negativa con la victimización escolar. Se realizaron análisis multigrupo que no mostraron diferencias significativas entre chicos y chicas, por tanto el modelo general propuesto es equivalente para ambos géneros. Se discuten los resultados obtenidos y sus implicaciones (AU)

This study analyzed from a gender perspective relationships between perceived family climate, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and adolescent victimization by peers in school. The associations between variables were analyzed with a sample of 1,884 adolescents (52% boys and 48% girls), aged 11 through17 years (M = 13.7, DT = 1.4). Results structural equation modeling analysis showed that family environment, self-esteem, and life satisfaction were significantly and negatively related to school victimization. Multigroup analyses showed that relationships between variables were not different for boys and girls. We discuss the implications of these results (AU)

Letting go or holding on? Parents' perceptions of their relationships with their children during emerging adulthood.

This qualitative interview study explored and examined the transitions surrounding emerging adulthood within the family from the parents' perspective. Interviews conducted with a purposive sample of parents (N = 59) revealed the perceived difficulties parents have in 'letting go' of their grown-up children, and in acknowledging their developing autonomy; and demonstrated a range of perceived parental strategies in response to young people's growing independence. The significance of these intertwined elements of perceived dependency, emotional tensions, and interactive behaviours for relationships in the family, and the implications for 'emerging adulthood', was discussed.