The issue of social development in adulthood has much important information that stems from the transition of adolescence to adulthood. In the article, Intimate Relationship Development During the Transition to Adulthood: Differences by Social Class by Ann Meier and Gina Allen, social development in adulthood has many variables of determining factors such as age, sex, race, financial position, sexual orientation, and militant experience. In a study taken by the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, research was conducted to see who in the last 18 months had a special romantic relationship. After receiving the data it was noted that lower income families have children that produce the majority of unintentional pregnancies. Upper class children tend to wait until later in life. This data shows that lower income families develop or participate in early sexual behavior at a younger age than upper income families. Even though lower income families have sexual encounters at earlier ages the data also shows that they marry at younger ages as well. This is a main cause for the high divorce rate. These two situations are primarily due to lack of education and resources from a family of poverty.
Marriage patterns also follow the parents’ example. For instance, children from higher educated and income families follow the traditional marriage example. This means that they marry first then become parents. And the opposite follows for children with “less-than” backgrounds of their parental disadvantaged situation. This information also states that lower income families also tend to produce children at younger ages; then get married hindering their chance of progressing in education and financial independence.
As the article progresses, it explains that different social statuses have different outcomes. Soldiers are relatively young and in the middle class section of social involvement. Most soldiers follow the traditional marriage path. Incarcerated young adults have been shown to need an intimate relationship as a turning point to a criminal past. Increased social bonding is essential for a delinquent past. And the relationships between sexual minorities such as gay and lesbian couples have very little research involving their social developmental status. These individuals are found to be a working class and usually attain higher education statuses.
I chose this article because it shows the connection of how social development follows patterns from progressing to adulthood from adolescence. I would absolutely choose this article to write a research paper on this particular topic. This article shows the correlation of how social development works within families from following a parent’s example. As children grow, the trends they incorporate are followed from their parents and their social stature. There is data and research included within the article showing research that was recorded giving more of an insight to how they achieved this information.

Meier, A., & Allen, G. (2008). Intimate relationship development during the transition to adulthood: Differences by social class. In J. T. Mortimer (Ed.), Social class and transitions to adulthood. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 119, 25–39.