青春因何迷茫? 家長應該淡定些

Many parents of 20-somethings worry that their offspring haven't yet found a career path, gotten married or become financially independent.
許多20來歲青年的父母憂心忡忡，因爲他們的子女還沒找到自己的事業之路，還沒有結婚，或者還沒有在經濟上獨立。

These parents should chill out, experts say.
專家說，這些家長應該淡定一些。

Recent research into how the brain develops suggests that people are better equipped to make major life decisions in their late 20s than earlier in the decade. The brain, once thought to be fully grown after puberty, is still evolving into its Adult shape well into a person's third decade, pruning away unused connections and strengthening those that remain, scientists say.
對大腦發育的最新研究表明，人在20多歲年齡段的後期比前期更具有做出人生重大決定的能力。科學家稱，曾被認爲在青春期之後就已發育完全的大腦在人生的第三個十年期仍要繼續發育，清除掉從未使用過的連接，加強剩餘的那部分連接，最終達到成年人大腦的形態。

'Until very recently, we had to make some pretty important life decisions about education and career paths, who to marry and whether to go into the military at a time when parts of our brains weren't optimal yet,' says neuroscientist Jay Giedd at the National Institute of Mental Health, whose brain-imaging studies of thousands of young people have yielded many of the new insights. Postponing those decisions makes sense biologically, he says. 'It's a good thing that the 20s are becoming a time for self-discovery.'
美國國家心理衛生研究所（National Institute of Mental Health）的神經學家傑伊・吉德（Jay Giedd）說，“直到最近，我們都是在部分大腦尚未發育到最佳狀態時就不得不做出涉及教育、事業、結婚對象、是否參軍等人生中十分重要的決定。”他對幾千名年輕人所做的腦成像研究已經產生了許多新見解。從生物學的角度來說，推遲那些決定是有道理的，他說，“20多歲的年齡段正在成爲自我發現的階段，這是件好事。”

Such findings are part of a new wave of research into 'emerging adulthood,' the years roughly from 18 to 29, which psychologists, sociologists and neuroscientists increasingly see as a distinct life stage. The gap between adolescence and full adulthood is becoming ever wider as more young people willingly or because of economic necessity prolong their education and postpone traditional adult responsibilities. As recently as the 1960s, the average age of first marriage for women in the U.S. was 20, and men 22. Today, the average is 26 for women and 28 for men.
這些發現是一股研究“始成年期”的新浪潮的一部分。始成年期大致是指18-29歲之間的時期，心理學家、社會學家和神經學家都逐漸將其視爲一個獨特的人生階段。隨着越來越多的年輕人或出於自願或迫於經濟原因延長他們的教育，推遲承擔傳統的成年人責任，青春期和完全成年之間的時間間隔變得越來越大。在時隔不遠的20世紀60年代，美國女性初婚的平均年齡是20歲，男性是22歲。今天，女性初婚的平均年齡爲26歲，男性爲28歲。

'It should be reassuring for parents to know that it's very typical in the 20s not to know what you're going to do and change your mind and seem very unstable in your life. It's the norm,' says Jeffrey J. Arnett, a professor of psychology at Clark University in Worcester, Mass., who coined the term 'emerging adulthood' in 2000.
馬薩諸塞州伍斯特市（Worcester）克拉克大學（Clark University）的心理學教授傑弗裏・J・阿內特（Jeffrey J. Arnett）在2000年的時候新造了“始成年期”一詞，他說，“人在20多歲時的典型特徵是不清楚自己將來要做什麼，常改變想法，生活看似很不穩定，家長們如果瞭解這一點就應該放下心來。”

For young adults, it can be a stressful time. High rates of anxiety, depression, motor-vehicle accidents and alcohol use are at their peak from 18 to 25, trends that tend to level out by age 28, studies show. And a recent survey by Clark University, which polled more than 1,000 young adults nationwide, found that 72% said this time of life was stressful and 33% said they were often depressed. Still, 89% believed they would eventually get what they want out of life.
對於剛剛成年的年輕人來說，這可能是一個充滿壓力的時期。研究表明，焦慮、抑鬱、機動車事故和喝酒的比率在18-25歲之間達到高峯，這種態勢往往到28歲才趨於平穩。克拉克大學最近對全國1,000多名剛成年的年輕人所做的一項問卷調查發現，72%的人說人生的這一階段充滿壓力，33%的人稱他們經常感到鬱悶。儘管如此，還是有89%的人相信他們最終會得到自己的生活所求。

At age 28, Nikki Cohen has explored more careers than many people do in a lifetime. After a year as a pre-med student at Emory University, the Long Island native moved back to New York to attend Parsons School of Design. 'I decided fashion was more exciting than science and a little more 'me,' ' Ms. Cohen says.
28歲的尼基・科恩（Nikki Cohen）對事業的探尋已經比很多人整個一生裏所做的還要多。科恩在長島（Long Island）出生長大，在埃默裏大學（Emory University）唸了一年醫學預科之後，她回到了紐約，進入帕森設計學院（Parsons School of Design）學習。她說，“當時我覺得時裝比科學更激動人心，更適合‘我’。”

She opened a clothing boutique when she was 23 and starred in a short-lived reality show, 'Downtown Girls,' on MTV. When the show was canceled and her store fell victim to the economic downturn, Ms. Cohen decided she was passionate about health issues after all and is now completing her master's thesis in health education at Columbia University.
23歲時，她開了一家服裝店，並在MTV短命的真人秀節目《都市女孩》（Downtown Girls）中擔任主角。當這個節目被取消、她的商店也受經濟衰退所拖累之時，她認爲自己終究還是對健康問題感興趣，現在她正在哥倫比亞大學（Columbia University）撰寫健康教育的碩士論文。

'It's definitely a scary time,' says Ms. Cohen. 'I'm fearful that I'm not going to get a job or meet a man that makes me happy for more than a month. But I'm also happy that I get to try out different things.'
科恩說，“這絕對是個讓人提心吊膽的時期，我一直都在擔心自己找不到工作，或者遇不到能夠讓我幸福超過一個月的男人。但是我也很高興自己嘗試了不同的東西。”

Researchers are just beginning to study how different experiences in adolescence and young adulthood may impact brain development. In one recent study, Dr. Giedd and his team compared brain images of teenage mothers with teens who hadn't given birth, but the researchers didn't find any clear differences. Yet other studies have found that skills such as playing an instrument or speaking another language are easier for young people whose brain connections are still forming. Adults also can learn new languages, but with more difficulty and often with an accent.
研究人員對青春期和青年期的不同經歷如何對大腦發育產生影響的研究正處於起步階段。在最近的一項研究中，吉德和他的團隊把未成年母親的大腦影像拿來與未生育青少年的大腦影像進行了對比，但是研究人員沒有發現任何明顯的差異。然而，其他研究已經發現，像彈奏樂器或說另外一種語言這樣的技能對大腦連接尚在形成階段的年輕人來說學起來更容易。成年人也能夠學習新的語言，但是難度更大，而且常常帶有口音。

The fact that the brain stays unfinished during early adulthood 'is the best thing that ever happened to humans' because it allows us to adapt to changing environments, says Dr. Giedd. 'We can figure out what kind of world we live in and what we need to be really good at.'
吉德說，大腦發育在成年初期尚未完成這一事實“是發生在人類身上最好的事情”，因爲它可以讓我們適應變化的環境，“我們可以弄清楚自己生活在什麼樣的世界之中以及自己真正需要什麼樣的一技之長。”

The front part of the brain, called the prefrontal cortex, is one of the last brain regions to mature. It is the area responsible for planning, prioritizing and controlling impulses.
大腦前部稱爲前額皮質的部分是最後成熟的大腦區域之一。這個區域負責規劃、優選和控制神經衝動。By the late 20s, 'there's better communication between parts of the brain that process emotions and social information - like what people think of you - and the parts that are important for planning ahead and balancing risk and reward,' says developmental psychologist Laurence Steinberg of Temple University.
美國天普大學（Temple University）的發展心理學家勞倫斯・斯坦伯格（Laurence Steinberg）說，到了20歲年齡段的後期，“大腦中處理情感和社交信息──比如人們對你的看法──的部分與大腦中重點負責事先規劃、平衡風險與回報的部分之間建立了更好的連接。”

How can emerging adults maximize their brain potential in this period? 'Things that are cognitively stimulating are important,' says Dr. Steinberg. 'Watching talking cats on YouTube isn't as good for cognitive development as reading or taking classes.'
處於始成年階段的年輕人如何才能把他們的大腦潛力發揮到極致呢？斯坦伯格說，“能夠提供認知刺激的東西很重要，對認知發展而言，在YouTube上看會說話的貓不如讀書或聽課。”

Even young adults who are financially dependent on their parents can practice independence in other ways. 'My advice is, if your parents are currently doing things for you that you could do for yourself, take the controls. Say, 'No. Mom, Let me get my own shampoo,' ' says Jennifer Tanner, a developmental psychologist and co-chair of the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood, an academic organization.
就算是那些在經濟上還依賴父母的年輕人也可以通過別的方式來鍛鍊獨立的能力。學術機構“始成年期研究協會”的聯合主席、發展心理學家詹妮弗・坦納（Jennifer Tanner）說，“我的建議是，如果家長現在還在替你做你力已能及的事情，你要主動自己去做。你可以說：‘媽媽別管，讓我自己拿香波。’”

Physically, the body is at its peak during emerging adulthood and the chronic diseases of later adulthood won't start for a while.
從生理上講，人的身體在始成年期達到巔峯狀態，在一段時間之內，成年後期的慢性疾病都不會發生。

The top 10 causes of death in young people - including motor vehicle accidents, homicides and suicides - are all preventable issues relating to judgment, not illness.
年輕人的十大死因──包括機動車事故、他殺和自殺──都是可以預防的問題，牽涉到判斷力，與疾病無關。

Adolescent and 20-something brains are also particularly vulnerable to trauma, abuse, alcohol and drugs. Brain scans have shown that heavy drinking, defined as 20 or more drinks a month, in young people can lead to decreased cognitive function, memory and attention.
青少年和20來歲青年的大腦也尤其容易受到心理創傷、虐待、酒精和毒品的侵害。腦部掃描顯示，年輕人酗酒（界定標準爲一個月喝酒達20瓶及以上）可以導致認知功能、記憶力和注意力的減退。

Some 20-somethings also are laying the groundwork for later health problems. About three-quarters of young adults are overweight, raising their risk of later obesity, and about 25% smoke cigarettes.
一些20來歲的年輕人正在爲自己以後的健康問題埋下隱患。大約3/4的年輕人體重超標，增加了今後患肥胖病的危險，吸菸的年輕人約佔25%。

Some severe mental illnesses also become apparent between ages 15 and 25. Early warning signs of schizophrenia include hallucinations, sudden hostility and suspiciousness, blank stare and incoherent conversation. Bipolar disorder involves cycles of depression with recklessness and impulsivity, such as excessive spending.
一些嚴重的精神疾病在15-25歲年齡段也開始變得明顯起來。精神分裂症的早期徵兆包括幻覺、突發敵意與疑心、茫然盯視及說話語無倫次。躁鬱症則是在心情抑鬱與魯莽衝動（比如過度消費）之間交替循環。

Parents who suspect their grown children could have a mental-health problem should get an assessment right away. 'It's extremely complicated even for professionals to parse out what's developmental and what's a mental-health problem in this age period,' says Dr. Tanner. 'If your kid won't go, go yourself and get professional advice. You can't even start working on the developmental stuff if there's a mental-health issue,' she says.
懷疑自己的子女可能有心理問題的家長應該立刻帶孩子去檢查。坦納說，“即使是專業人員，要分析出這個年齡階段裏哪些屬於心理髮展問題，哪些屬於心理健康問題都是一件極端複雜的事情。如果你的孩子不願意去，你自己也要去向專業人士諮詢建議。如果存在心理健康問題，促進心理髮展的所有努力甚至都無從入手。”

Rates of depression, anxiety and other mental-health issues are higher in the teens and 20s than in any other decade except the 80s. Some experts blame the roller coaster of change and uncertainty during the youthful years. 'Most emerging adults find it very exciting to be in this time of life, but some find it overwhelming. They wonder, 'How do I find out who I am, or what I want to do?' Or they want to be a doctor or own a business and they find the doors closed to them,' says Dr. Arnett.
除了80多歲年齡段以外，十幾歲和二十幾歲的人出現抑鬱、焦慮和其它心理健康問題的比率比其它任何年齡段的人都高。一些專家認爲青年時期過山車式的情緒突變與不確定性造成了這種局面。阿內特說，“大多數始成年期的年輕人發現人生的這一階段很有刺激性，但是有些人覺得這段時期難以應對。他們想，‘我如何才能看清我是誰，或者我想做什麼？’又或者他們想當一名醫生或創業經商，卻發現所有的門都是緊閉的。”

'There's also a lot of loneliness and making and breaking of romantic relationships in this period.'
“這一時期還有很多的孤獨感以及與戀人的分分合合。”

Many of those issues ease by the late 20s. By then, the vast majority of emerging adults find work, relationships, along with higher self-esteem and life satisfaction, studies show. And most achieve financial independence. The Clark University survey found that while 28% of 18-to-21-year-olds get regular support from their parents for living expenses, the rate declined to 6% among 26-to-29-year-olds.
那些問題到20多歲年齡段後期很多都會緩解。研究表明，到那個時候，絕大多數年輕人都已經找到了工作、愛人以及較高的自信與生活滿足感，而且多數人已經實現了經濟獨立。克拉克大學的那項調查發現，18-21歲年齡段的年輕人中有28%的人定期從父母那裏得到生活費，這個比例在26-29歲年齡段下降到了6%。

Meanwhile, says Dr. Arnett, 'It pays to relax and not panic because your 21-year-old or even your 26-year-old doesn't know what he or she is going to do. Almost nobody still has that problem at 40 or 50. We all figure it out eventually.'
與此同時，阿內特說，“不要因爲你21歲甚至26歲的子女不知道自己要做什麼就感到驚慌，放鬆心情纔有好處。幾乎沒有人到40或50歲的時候還存在這個問題。我們大家最終都會想明白這個問題的。”