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ObjectiveThe purpose of the present study was to identify subgroups of families based on ideologies and examine intergenerational conflict predicated by ideological subset.BackgroundGender, religious, and political ideologies are key to understanding how individuals' function both within their families and in society and can provide insight to intergenerational conflict.MethodsFamilies (85%–95% White) included individuals across three generations (late, middle, and emerging adulthood). Data from the Longitudinal Study of Generations (LSOG) was used to conduct latent profile analyses.ResultsThree subgroups of families were identified: nontraditional ideology families, traditional ideology families, and adapting ideology families. Using the modified Bolck‐Croon‐Hagenaars (2004) approach, intergenerational conflict between profiles was examined.ConclusionsFindings provide a snapshot of common groupings of families based on generational members' gender, religious, and political ideologies. Findings indicate that conflict may be reported more frequently by middle‐aged parents or children (i.e., "sandwich generation") in nontraditional ideology and adapting ideology families.ImplicationsFindings suggest that in approximately half of families in this study, emerging adults have similar ideologies to their grandparents, indicating there may not be such extreme differences between generations as are colloquially perceived.

Guided by the Relationships Motivation Theory, this short-term longitudinal study examined associations between social support (i.e., relatedness), depression, and stress in the form of task overload among emerging adult, university students (N = 184 at time one; N = 105 at time two; 69.2% female). Results from a series of path models indicated a significant relationship between decreased perceptions of social support over time and an increase in perceived task overload with significant mediating effects through depressive symptomology. Implications for counseling services as well as intervention and awareness points for university professionals are discussed.

Longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were used to evaluate the impact of post-high school military enlistment during emerging adulthood. Comparisons were made between matched samples of emerging adults who enlisted in the military ( n = 576) and their civilian counterparts ( n = 576) on well-being over a decade later. Well-being was broadly conceptualized to reflect socioeconomic well-being, physical health, mental health, and risky lifestyle behaviors. Matching maximizes confidence that findings reflect differences due to enlistment, rather than pre-existing characteristics that contribute to both enlistment rates and well-being. No consistent differences emerged between the matched samples. Service members reported some indicators of better mental health (perceived stress, anxiety), yet higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis, and civilians reported some indicators of better physical health. Strengths-based perspectives and models that account for the concurrent possibility that military service may positively and negatively impact well-being are needed in future research.

Research suggests family-level factors remain an important contributor to emerging adult mental health. Guided by the stress process framework, this study used latent growth curve modeling to examine the role of parent–child relationships, specifically emotional closeness and conflict, in child self-esteem and depression throughout emerging adulthood. Longitudinal associations between self-esteem and depression were also explored using four waves of data from the Longitudinal Study of Generations ( N = 196 emerging adults; M = 20.88 years old at Wave 1). This period was characterized by steep increases in self-esteem and decreases in depression. Findings suggested parent–child emotional closeness and conflict in early emerging adulthood were associated with the intercept of self-esteem and were indirectly related to the intercept of depression through self-esteem; the rate of change in self-esteem predicted the rate of change in depression. Findings underscore the importance of parent–child relationships during early emerging adulthood and the long-term impact of personal resources on well-being.