Psychometric models of emerging adulthood: an evaluation in a Chilean university sample

This study analyzed three models of the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA): the original by Reifman et al., the version based on Arnett's proposals, and the abbreviated version by Crocetti et al. The sample included 1935 students from four Chilean universities (56% women), with an average age of 21.3 years (SD = 2.04). The 31 items of the instrument were descriptively analyzed, followed by analyses to determine the best-fitting factorial model. Confirmatory Factor Analyses and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling were utilized. Finally, reliability estimates were obtained. The results showed that Crocetti et al.'s model offered the best fit, consistent with theoretical postulations, and acceptable reliability levels, proving to be the best of the evaluated models. This version confirmed five correlated latent dimensions, providing an integrated interpretation of the Emerging Adulthood construct for use in the Chilean population.