Big Five Personality Traits and Subjective Perceptions of Adulthood

Abstract Adulthood is often inferred from age and milestones such as marriage, parenthood, and career. This study tested whether perceptions of adulthood – subjective adult status and perceived importance of markers of adulthood – are associated with personality traits in a UK sample ( N = 714, age 18–77 years, M Ag e = 39.30). Regression analyses indicated that subjective adult status, or feeling like an adult, was associated with lower neuroticism and higher conscientiousness. Personality independently explained 27% of variance in subjective adult status. Endorsement of the Markers of Adulthood scale (MoA) subscales had mixed associations, as the role transitions, independence, and legality markers subscales were associated with higher neuroticism and lower openness, whereas endorsement of the relative maturity subscale was associated with higher openness and higher conscientiousness. Higher extraversion showed associations with endorsement of all MoA subscales. These results illustrate the presence of individual differences in perceptions of adulthood and suggest that personality may shape whether we see ourselves as adults, and how we define adulthood. Findings have implications for research on adult development, and for practitioners supporting young people with the transition to adulthood.