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Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) Test

In 4 minutes, understand how you’re experiencing the shift from adolescence to adulthood, including identity, freedom, and uncertainty. With 19 items, it delivers clear, actionable insights for counseling, education, or research.
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Questions: 194 minutes
Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.
08:30
October 2, 2025
October 2, 2025
Material has been updated
22295 views
2880 completions
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Scale Explorer
How the Scales are Structured
example score
12/16
Instability (I)
Instability measures how much variability and uncertainty a person experiences in key areas of life during the transition into adulthood.
More stable
Moderately changeable
Highly changeable
4 – 8: More stable | 9 – 12: Moderately changeable | 13 – 16: Highly changeable
A score of 12 suggests a moderately changeable period, with noticeable shifts and uncertainty that may reflect active exploration while maintaining some continuity.
example score
7/12
In-Between (I)
Measures the extent to which a person feels caught between adolescent and adult roles during the transition to adulthood.
Clear adult role
Mixed/transitioning
Strong in-between feeling
3 – 5: Clear adult role | 6 – 9: Mixed/transitioning | 10 – 12: Strong in-between feeling
A score of 7 falls in the “Mixed/transitioning” range, suggesting a noticeable but not overwhelming sense of being between teenage and adult roles.
example score
6/12
Self-Focus (S)
Self-Focus measures how strongly a person prioritizes their own needs, interests, and personal development during the transition into adulthood.
Low self-focus
High self-focus
3 – 6: Low self-focus | 7 – 12: High self-focus
A score of 6 suggests relatively low self-focus, with attention more balanced toward others’ expectations or external demands than toward personal goals.
example score
9/16
Experimentation (E)
Measures the tendency to explore emerging adulthood by trying new activities, roles, and relationships.
Low exploration
Moderate exploration
High exploration
4 – 8: Low exploration | 9 – 12: Moderate exploration | 13 – 16: High exploration
A score of 9 suggests a moderate level of experimentation, indicating some active exploration of new options while maintaining a degree of stability or caution.
example score
11/20
Identity Exploration (IE)
Measures how strongly a young person is exploring who they are, including clarifying goals, values, and possible life roles.
Low
Moderate
High
5 – 9: Low | 10 – 14: Moderate | 15 – 20: High
A score of 11 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting an active but not overwhelming level of reflection and exploration of identity, goals, and values.
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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS
Who Usually Takes This Test?
Students and recent grads
41%OF USERS
People in their late teens to mid‑twenties who are choosing a path, comparing options, and want to understand whether they feel like “an adult” yet.
Early-career changers
34%OF USERS
Young adults starting work or switching fields who feel freedom mixed with uncertainty and want clarity about their current life stage.
Psychologists and educators
25%OF USERS
Specialists working with youth who use the results to better understand a client or student’s experience of growing up and tailor support.
BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.
RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE
What You’ll See After You Finish the Test
Scale Results
— Explained Clearly
Your scores across each test scale, translated into plain, usable insights. Not just numbers, but what they actually mean for your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.
AI-Powered
Interpretation
A structured, clinically grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation — without alarmist language.
Statistical
Comparison
See how you compare to others. Your scores are placed in a statistical context, showing percentiles and trends based on anonymized platform data to help you understand what`s typical.
Practical
Recommendations
Actionable guidance tailored to your profile. Receive clear, realistic suggestions you can apply immediately — focused on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.
AI-Detected
Insights
Key patterns you might not notice on your own. Surfacing subtle connections in your responses that help you better understand what may be driving your current results.
Discuss with
an AI Psychologist
Clarify, reflect, and explore right away. Talk through your outcomes, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue environment.
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Used in 52+ countries
Benchmarking
See How You Compare
Once you finish the test, your results will be compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of the benchmarks we use to place your score in context.
Instability (I)
Average
7.9
Normal range
6.3 — 9.6
min.
4
max.
16
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Between a Teenager and an Adult (BaTaaA)
Average
8.4
Normal range
6.9 — 9.8
min.
3
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Self-Focus (S)
Average
6.8
Normal range
5.7 — 7.9
min.
3
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Experiments (E)
Average
10.5
Normal range
8.3 — 12.7
min.
4
max.
16
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Search for identity (Sfi)
Average
14.1
Normal range
11.5 — 16.6
min.
5
max.
20
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions

Any questions left?

What does this questionnaire measure?
It measures how individuals experience the transition from adolescence to adulthood. It focuses on subjective themes such as identity exploration, instability, self-focus, and perceived possibilities.
Who is this questionnaire intended for?
It is intended for late adolescents and young adults, most often in the late teens through the twenties. It may also be used with older individuals when a delayed transition to adult roles is a clinical or research question.
How long does it take and what is the format?
Completion typically takes about 4 minutes. The questionnaire includes 19 items rated on a fixed response scale.
How should responses be selected?
Select the option that best matches current experience rather than an ideal or expected state. Answer all items using the first response that seems accurate.
How are results interpreted and used?
Scores summarize the prominence of key features of the transition period and can support case formulation, psychoeducation, or research. Results are not a diagnosis and should be interpreted alongside other relevant information.
WHAT THE TEST MEASURES
About This Assessment

Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) Test

identity

This self-report measure assesses subjective experiences associated with the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) is intended to capture perceived developmental themes commonly reported in emerging adulthood.

The questionnaire contains 19 items and typically takes about 4 minutes to complete. It was developed by Jeffrey Jensen Arnett and is generally used in clinical, counseling, and research contexts to support a structured discussion of how an individual views their current life stage.

Scores from the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) can help characterize areas such as exploration, perceived instability, self-focus, and feelings of being in-between. Results should be interpreted in context and used alongside clinical interview data and other relevant measures.

Author: Jeffrey Jensen Arnett
Literature: Schwartz, S. J., Côté, J. E., & Arnett, J. J. Identity and agency in emerging adulthood: Two developmental routes in the individualization process. Youth & Society. 2005.; Tanner, J. L., & Arnett, J. J. The emergence of “emerging adulthood”: The new life stage between adolescence and young adulthood. In A. Furlong (Ed.), Handbook of youth and young adulthood. Routledge. 2009.; Reifman, A., Arnett, J. J., & Colwell, M. J. Emerging adulthood: Theory, assessment and application. Journal of Youth Development. 2007.
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