Different types of emerging adult university students: The role of achievement strategies and personality for adulthood self-perception and life and education satisfaction

The purpose of this study was to (a) identify different groups of emerging adult University students based on differences in achievement strategies and personality traits and (b) examine whether or not these groups were differentially related to the criteria deemed important for adulthood and to life and education satisfaction. Participants consisted of 282 Italian University students (59.6% women; Mage= 22.28). Results of cluster analysis identified three groups of emerging adults: positive independent, negative dependent, and positive dependent. Positive dependent young adults were more inclined than the other groups towards values of adulthood related to family and relationships while negative dependent adjusted young adults reported the lowest satisfaction in life. The results explain differences within emerging adult University students regarding self-perception of adulthood and life satisfaction