Abstract

SOUZA, Luciana Karine de  and  MCCARTHY, Sherri Nevada. Rites of passage from adolescence to adulthood: age and gender differences. Gerais, Rev. Interinst. Psicol. [online]. 2010, vol.3, n.2, pp.124-135. ISSN 1983-8220.

This work aims at describing the choices of adults for rites of passage from adolescence to adulthood. The objective is also to identify the most significant rites, as well as age and gender differences. Participants included 191 university students, enrolled at a federal public institution in Porto Alegre (RS). We used as an instrument the Questionnaire of Rites of Passage. The three most cited were: making major decisions with no help from the family, responsibility for other people, and financial independence from parents. There were more women indicating financial independence, and more men indicating marriage as rite of passage to adulthood. The only age difference found was in relation to being responsible for other people, which was the most cited rite by older participants. The results are discussed based on the social influence on the perceptions regarding the granting of the status of an adult individual.

Keywords : Adolescence; Adults; Rites of passage.

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