Emerging Adulthood in Türkiye: Psychometric Evaluation of the IDEA-TR and Demographic Differences among Turkish Emerging Adults

This study aims to update the psychometric properties of the IDEA-TR Scale, which is used to assess dimensions of emerging adulthood, and to investigate differences in IDEA dimensions based on demographic variables. Study 1 (n = 735) examined the psychometric properties of the IDEA-TR to test its validity and reliability within the Turkish context. In Study 2 (n = 321), demographic differences in IDEA-TR scores were tested using statistical analyses. Data were collected in 2023 from a total sample of 1056 emerging adults (694 females, 362 males) aged 18-30. Correlation of IDEA-TR subdimensions and total scores with perceived stress, life satisfaction, depression, and anxiety scores were calculated. The results of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed a six-factor solution (explaining 59.21% of the variance), which was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results, and the total scale demonstrated good internal consistency (α = .84). The six-factor structure identified in the present study aligns more closely with the original IDEA model than with the previous Turkish adaptation, reflecting updated psychometric evidence. Convergent validity analyses showed significant relationships between the IDEA-TR scores and perceived stress, life satisfaction, depression, and anxiety. MANOVA results indicated significant effects of gender, relationship status, parental status, residency, subjective adulthood, and education on IDEA factors. Follow-up analyses indicated that individuals in committed relationships and parents exhibited lower self-focus, whereas subjective adulthood was a strong predictor of emerging adulthood experiences. Women scored higher on feeling in-between, identity exploration, and negativity/instability. Findings suggest the IDEA-TR is a valid and reliable tool and highlight differences in experiences of emerging adulthood across demographic characteristics in Türkiye.