ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the significance of the Great Recession and COVID-19 pandemic shocks on young adult experiences after high school. Specifically, the impact of shocks on developmental contexts of diverse, young adults undertaking developmental pursuits of postsecondary education and work trajectories. The application of a human development theoretical approach permits a greater understanding of how diverse young adults make meaning of risks introduced, or exacerbated, by shocks. As such, the book’s interdisciplinary human development approach is well-suited to address the key question of how societal shifts emanating from the Great Recession and COVID-19 shape young adults’ conceptualization of (i.e., meaning making) and accessibility to traditional (i.e., work, education) and emerging pathways that mold the transition to adulthood. Further, the chapter articulates the inherently interdisciplinary project of examining the effects of shocks. Given the cross-cutting developmental, social, and economic effects on a singular, postsecondary pathway, the chapter provides the rationale for inclusive social scientific research on identity development for diverse young adult populations. The chapter closes by articulating the three research questions that motivate the foundational study and book’s structure.
