The changing face of stressor exposure across the transition to adulthood: A longitudinal mixed-methods study.

Stressors spread across different life domains make the transition to adulthood one of the most demanding periods of the lifespan. Yet, detailed, in-depth accounts of how stressor exposure unfolds during this period are lacking. This study quantitatively and qualitatively describes stressor exposure among young men and women toward the outset, middle, and end of this period, in a sample of 543 young adults initially recruited in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities (52.3% men; 23.3% racialized people; 65.6% parents without postsecondary credentials). Participants were interviewed at ages 16, 20, and 24 (retention at age 24: 56%) with a semistructured approach providing high-quality data on stressor exposure. Quantitatively, life domains where most stressors originated shifted over development. While romantic, financial, housing, health, and work-related difficulties waxed, difficulties in school, friendship, relatives' health, and family gradually waned. Stressor exposure peaked midpoint (early 20s), at the nexus of lingering adolescent challenges and emerging adult issues. Stressor exposure was higher among women than men, particularly in domains related to social relationships. Qualitatively, stressors manifested differently by gender within certain domains, like family and romantic relationships, but similarly in others, like finances. Qualitative results also revealed gendered patterns in the ways young adults deployed their agency to manage stressors. Exercising agency led to significant changes for the better, but structural constraints also often meant stressor continuity. Findings highlight the need for young adults to have access to developmentally appropriate, gender-sensitive supports at this critical transition. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).