Abstract

ECHARRI CANOVAS, Carlos Javier  and  PEREZ AMADOR, Julieta. The Transition to Adulthood: Events in the Life Course of Youth in Mexico. Estud. demogr. urbanos [online]. 2007, vol.22, n.1, pp.43-77.  Epub Oct 01, 2019. ISSN 2448-6515.  https://doi.org/10.24201/edu.v22i1.1293.

The fundamental thrust of this paper is to explore the transition from youth to adulthood in Mexico. To this end, the authors analyze the calendar and intensity of the characteristic events of this transition: leaving school, first job, leaving the parental home, first union and first live-born child. They also explore the interrelations between these events and focus on the factors that may accelerate or delay their occurrence. On the basis of the National Youth Survey 2000, the results of this article show that the transition from youth to adulthood in Mexico does not necessarily follow the normative sequence on the basis of which it has been defined. Young Mexicans do not finish their studies before starting work; instead, their first transition entails entering the job market. Likewise, although the majority leave the parental home to marry or to live with someone, some still live with their parents even though they are married and have children. There are also significant differences between the sexes and places of residence, not only as regards the age at which events occur but also in the time it takes young people to make the transition to adulthood. Finally, through the application of models for analyzing the history of events, the authors found that living in a restrictive environment accelerates the occurrence of these five events. Conversely, communication with one’s parents and a better financial situation delay their occurrence.

Keywords : transition to adulthood; analysis of history of events; Mexican youth; socio-economic differences; household dynamics.