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UNO’s Jonathan Santo Explores the Complex Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood

The Conversation features UNO’s Jonathan Santo on the complexities of defining adulthood.

  • published: 2025/05/20
  • contact: Office of Strategic Marketing Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu
Multicultural group of young friends bonding outdoors and having fun.

Photo: Shutterstock.

Maybe there was a defining moment that made you feel like you had become an adult, or a certain age that your culture considers someone to have become an adult.

Jonathan Santo, Ph.D., expert and professor in psychology at UNO, was featured in The Conversation, offering insights into the complexities of the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Santo emphasized that adulthood cannot be defined by a single factor, but rather by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors that vary for everyone.

💡 Why it matters: Santo’s analysis highlights that while legal definitions of adulthood may be clear, the actual transition is nuanced, with different milestones and experiences influencing when an individual can be considered an adult.

📸 The big picture: Santo’s insights contribute to ongoing discussions about age-related milestones, helping to shape how society understands and supports young people as they navigate this important developmental stage.

For more on Santo’s perspective on adulthood, read the full article on The Conversation.

Read the full article on The Conversation

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). 

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