Sentido na Vida na Adultez Emergente: Contribuições para a Psicologia do Desenvolvimento

Jessica Particelli Gobbo; Letícia Dellazzana-Zanon

doi:10.5020/23590777.rs.v23i2.e12968

Authors

Jessica Particelli Gobbo Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas - PUC, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3500-0882
Letícia Dellazzana-Zanon Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas - PUC, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0649-1675

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5020/23590777.rs.v23i2.e12968

Keywords:

emerging adulthood, meaning in life, life cycle, developmental psychology

Abstract

Emerging adulthood refers to the period of human development between adolescence and adulthood, which includes individuals between the ages of 18 and 29. The main characteristics of emerging adulthood are identity exploration, instability, self-focus, feelings of ambivalence, and a period of possibility. Due to the difficulties and challenges inherent to this period, the mental health of emerging adults must be promoted. One of the ways to positively contribute to increasing and maintaining the mental health of this population is the development of a sense of meaning in life. This theoretical study aimed to present the importance of meaning in life for the healthy development of emerging adults and contribute to discussions on this topic in the light of developmental psychology. To this end, the definition and importance of emerging adulthood, the specificities of emerging adulthood in the Brazilian context, the implications of meaning in life for the mental health of emerging adults, and the studies on meaning in life in emerging adulthood are presented and discussed. The research results indicate that the presence of a sense of meaning in life in emerging adults is related to processes of personal growth, self-realization, and positive mental functioning and that promoting meaning in life in this population can strengthen commitment to life itself and protect against risky behaviors. It is suggested that interventions that consider the specificities of emerging adulthood in the Brazilian context with a focus on meaning in life be carried out to contribute to the prevention and promotion of mental health in this population.

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Author Biographies

Jessica Particelli Gobbo, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas - PUC, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil

Psicóloga especialista em Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental (ITC, 2018) e Doutora em Psicologia (PUCCAMP, 2022). Docente, Supervisora e Coordenadora de estágios na instituição Centro Universitário Salesiano de São Paulo (UNISAL - Americana). Atua nas áreas de Docência, Psicoterapia Cognitivo-Comportamental com Adolescentes e Adultos, Avaliação Psicológica e Psicologia do desenvolvimento humano - com ênfase em desenvolvimento do adolescente e adultos emergentes, construção do projeto de vida e sentido na vida.

Letícia Dellazzana-Zanon, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas - PUC, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil

Docente do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia e titular da Faculdade de Psicologia da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (PUC-Campinas) desde 2015. É pesquisadora do grupo de pesquisa Psicologia da Saúde e Desenvolvimento da Criança e do Adolescente do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia da PUC-Campinas. Mestre pela mesma instituição (UFRGS, 2008). Especialista em Psicologia Clínica (Conselho Federal de Psicologia, 2005), Especialista em Terapia de Família e Casal (Domus, 2004) e Psicóloga pela PUCRS (2001). Atua na área de Psicologia do Desenvolvimento, com ênfase em desenvolvimento do adolescente e construção do projeto de vida, família e maternidade.

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