Anxiety Disorders in Emerging Adulthood

Emerging adulthood (EA) is a newly recognized developmental stage that spans from the end of adolescence (age 18) to the beginning of adulthood in high-income countries (ages 25–30). This stage is characterized by tremendous excitement, as EAs explore various identities and experiment with different careers and relationships. However, this stage is also inherently unstable and is a period of heightened risk for mental disorders. Anxiety disorders appear to be particularly prevalent during EA and are associated with difficulty navigating the developmental transitions that occur during this life stage. In this chapter, we explore the epidemiology of anxiety disorders during EA as well as risk factors for the development of these disorders. We also consider factors relevant to the treatment of anxiety disorders in EAs, including the importance of addressing barriers to care and social factors that may be maintaining symptoms. Finally, we discuss future directions for research in this area.