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Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA)3

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

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

25,239 views

3,266 completions

2,562 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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 (IB)

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 (SF)

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.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Instability (I)

Average

7.9

Normal range

6.3 — 9.6

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Between a Teenager and an Adult (BaTaaA)

Average

8.4

Normal range

6.9 — 9.8

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Self-Focus (S)

Average

6.8

Normal range

5.7 — 7.9

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Experiments (E)

Average

10.5

Normal range

8.3 — 12.7

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Search for identity (Sfi)

Average

14.1

Normal range

11.5 — 16.6

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

This questionnaire is intended for young people in the period of emerging adulthood. Please answer the questions about what this stage of life represents for you by indicating your level of agreement using the response scale.

- Strongly disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree somewhat
- Agree somewhat
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Strongly agree

These are 3 of the 19 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) Test - Symptoms and Signs

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.