To ask what age is a young adult

[User1010]

I’ve always seen 25 as the cut off point of a young adult however it seems in recent years like this has extended to 30.

That’s my view on it you can be young but the term young adult to me has a certain image.

16-25 I would say, but it's a bit dependant on circumstances, if still studying it can be older (eg those who take 2-3 years before heading to university) whereas if you become a parent you grow up fast!

Young adult is 16-25 but realistically it’s 16-21 with 21-25s only classed as such when they have been students.

16-24ish? I’m in Scotland where school leaving age is still 16, and I’ve treated ds1 as such, as have his college. I know some parents still consider their 16/17 year olds children though.

Yeah I'd say 18-25.

I'm 26 now and while I feel young, I think I'm starting to age out of the "young adult" category if that makes sense.

18-21 or 22ish I’d say. After that you’re “in your twenties” leading into “in your thirties” etc.

Not really a term I hear frequently outside of YA books/literature.

Nobody is saying they are "old" aprillygirl" if they have kids and houses*
What are they then,middle aged?

I think the rising cost of living has a lot to do with it. In general, most 25 year olds won’t be earning enough to get a mortgage. There are of course exceptions - they may live in a less expensive area and have worked since they were 16 and now be on a decent wage. But geography and demographics count for a lot too - in London most people (certainly in my social circle) live in shared accommodation til their mid 30s, I don’t know anyone who has children or is married or even thinking about it (my social circle ranges from age 25-35) so we live a very unencumbered, spontaneous life which some people might consider immature. I’ve just started living alone at 29 and I feel a lot more adult, but I wouldn’t say I feel like I have my shit together completely or do things traditionally seen as sensible and adult like getting up early or knowing how pensions work.

I don't understand what you are driving at OP, eg if a person is in care the state has an obligation to have an interest in that individual until age 24; safeguarding as 'a child and young person' is until 24. If an individual was to go to prison, they would be in a youth offenders institution until age 24. That is the legal definition.

So for people to bandy 16/18/21/25 what ever round is really irrelevant. What exactly are you asking ?

Dodge I had kids at 30 and am v definitely an older mum in my area! Most settle down with houses (maybe rented) and kids early 20s.

Its funny as house sharing would be considered weird and not what you do past studenthood here, but I know is now normal for london.

18 until whatever age they can't get a young persons railcard.

I think young people living at home longer due to financial reasons has inevitably led to them being 'babied' by their parents for longer than ever used to be normal. I know 20-25 year olds who still act like teens whose parents take them to Dr's appointments or run them around for nights out and do their washing etc! This seems to have become the norm rather than being a bit shameful as it was when I was that age (and I'm only 33) so there is no incentive to move out into financial hardship when you can live comfortably at home. I think this makes young adults seem younger so the age which they are considered properly independent is edging closer to 30.

18-25, although over recent years a lot of agencies and charities have moved their criteria for support of ‘young adults/people’ to 30. Generally a reflection on both need, and and over saturation of the ‘youth’ market.

Kneel completely, if I’d have stayed in my home town I think I’d be in a minority to be single and not have kids by now, thinking about the general lifestyles of people I went to school with who stayed local (those who moved away are a mixed bag of single, in relationships/married, living abroad, but mostly none have kids). Houses are more affordable in my home town but wages are much lower so I could buy one easily on my current London salary, but not so much if I worked locally. People don’t house share for the fun of it in London, it’s just too expensive to do anything else (unless you work in banking). I earn considerably above the average salary and have just started renting alone and it costs almost 50% of my take home pay. I’ve only just reached a position where I can do it. House sharing is fairly normal in other major cities as well, thinking of the friends I have in Manchester and Birmingham.

That said, people living at home in their 20s and being ferried about by their parents and never having to lift a finger are just lazy bastards! Living at home for financial reasons is fine, but you can still behave like an adult!

18

37- when I was last refused service for alcohol. 29 was still young enough for child bus fare so some point from 29 to 37

I'd say it's a sliding scale depending on responsibilities. From the teenage years there's a growing responsibility for example being Gillick competant would apply for a while before 16 in personal health. 16 is a transition point in education options, being able to drive some classes of vehicle, 17 for cars. We can have issues in Scouting and Guiding that an Explorer/ Ranger can drive themselves to an event, but still need parental permission to attend... they could even be living independently! The state does distinguish youth beyond 18 in benefits/ student funding. I'm out of date, but it did on NMW when it was introduced.
Normally by 25, full adult privilages and responsibilities are in place.

I'd say 16 upto and including 25... I'm 28 and would definitely not class myself as a young adult anymore, so saying upto 30 is definitely a push.

In Scotland you are an adult at 16.

You are not really though.

Child protection guidelines given by the Scottish government consider you a 'child' until 18.

You can't buy alcohol or cigarettes or vote (except Scottish parliamentary)

You can, rather weirdly, get married though.

Me personally:

Young Adult 18
Adult 30
Mature Adult 50

Mature Adult 50

Hmm, I must have missed that memo - I didn't realise I should have started being mature years ago

When you have no idea what 'that irritating noise that is bleeping outside shops to prevent teens loitering' is because you cannot hear it .

I left home at 18 when I got my first flat, paid my bills and rent and decorated /furnished it myself. Very grown up.

Then I moved to London at 21 and lived in shared houses and still would be if I remained there. So felt younger, going backwards almost.
Moved back to my home town, got my own property but I am living in a small flat with no children so won't really need a house/garden - feel very young again.

I was looking for more personal views rather than legal definitions.