adultolescence

Adultolescence is a portmanteau of adult and adolescence used to describe a cultural phenomenon in which adults in their twenties and thirties maintain behaviors, interests, and identities traditionally associated with adolescence or late adolescence. In popular discourse, the term is used to characterize lifestyles that emphasize casual or flexible arrangements, ongoing novelty-seeking, and delayed attainment of conventional adult milestones such as stable employment, financial independence, and long-term partnerships. The concept is social and cultural rather than a formal stage of development, and there is no single agreed-upon definition.

Origins of the term are informal; it emerged in online and media contexts during the 2010s, with various writers and commentators contributing to its usage. Some scholars relate it to broader trends of extended adolescence and emerging adulthood, while critics argue that the term can reinforce stereotypes or overlook structural challenges such as education costs and housing markets that influence life trajectories.

In popular culture, "adultolescence" has appeared as a book title by Gabbie Hanna, highlighting how public-facing fame and youth-oriented media can shape adult behavior. The term overlaps with other concepts such as emerging adulthood, extended adolescence, and "kidult" culture, and it remains a topic of debate about maturity, responsibility, and the evolving nature of adulthood in contemporary society.