Exploring the Utility of the Emerging Adulthood Theory Among Military Members and Veterans with Risky Substance Use

Emerging adult (EA; aged 18–29) military members experience major career, life, and developmental transitions. The conglomeration of these changes may influence or exacerbate anxiety or stress, produce challenges, and lead to negative coping mechanisms, such as substance use. This study sought to understand the utility of the five Emerging Adulthood Theory (EAT) dimensions among a sample of military members and veterans with risky substance use. To our knowledge, the applicability of EAT has not been explored with United States military populations. During 2019, we completed 24 semi-structured interviews. On average, participants were 24.9 years old, male, white, and in the United States Marine Corps. We asked about experiences transitioning into adulthood, military culture, and experiences of the five EAT dimensions. Three coders employed rigorous theory-driven thematic analysis procedures to piece together themes. We report EA military members’ experiences with the EAT dimensions, focusing on nuances related to the influence of military culture.