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Brigham Young University
The purpose of this study is threefold. The first purpose, in general, is to examine the transition to adulthood among LDS youth in their late teens and early twenties. Specifically, the study will investigate the criteria young members of the LDS church have for becoming an adult. Among other issues, the study will examine whether or not the mission experience constitutes an institutionalized transition to adulthood in the perceptions of young church members.
The second purpose of this study will be to collect data from a non-LDS population, which will allow us to make direct comparisons between non-LDS and LDS emerging adults on the criteria they have for becoming an adult. There is reason to believe there may be significant differences between these two groups. This study will enable us to directly assess these potential differences.
The third is that because relatively little is known about the causes and correlates of the various beliefs emerging adults have, a variety of other topics related to development during this time period are also of interest, including the role that family relationships, educational experiences, and strength of religious beliefs have in the transition to adulthood.
The participants in this study will be approximately 400 LDS students at Brigham Young University and 400 non-LDS students at the University of Maryland between 18 to 26 years of age. Each participant will complete a 143-item questionnaire that asks about background, including family, ethnic and religious background.