[Psychosocial development and problems in early adulthood: developmental psychological characterization of an important segment of the life cycle].

Young adulthood represents a genuine developmental phase in the life cycle. In its transitional position it shares many traits with the developmental process in youth and adulthood. Among its central developmental problems are: establishing a secure personal identity, forming mature friendships and mature intimate relationships, reorientation of family ties, building up a core of ideological values, selecting a long-term vocation, finding one's bearings, looking to the future. The perspective of "normative crisis" vs "continuous transformation" is discussed. Ths significance of the patterns of adaptation found in young adulthood for further psychosocial development is emphasized.