When do you officially hit "adulthood?" Is it when you turn 18 and the law says you can legally be on your own? Is it when you turn 21 and are about to graduate from college? Well, according to The Lancet Global Health Journal, a human being shouldn't officially be considered as an adult until they are 24-years-old.

They are claiming that the phase of adolescence ranges from age 10 to 24. Generally speaking, we are delaying the milestones that some consider as significant markers of adult life like finishing school, getting a full-time job, getting married, starting a family, and buying a house.

Because of this, and the fact that our brain is still fully developing, the doctors behind this study think an "expanded and more inclusive definition of adolescence is essential for developmentally appropriate framing of laws, social policies, and service systems. Rather than age 10–19 years, a definition of 10–24 years corresponds more closely to adolescent growth and popular understandings of this life phase and would facilitate extended investments across a broader range of settings."

I'll admit it: I'm 25 and still live with my parents. My boyfriend and I have been together for five years, and are trying to save up and move in together, but it's hard. And as for getting married and starting a family, I don't see that happening within the next couple of years (maybe longer). I graduated from college almost four years ago, have a full-time job, and a 401K. So, am I not considered an "adult" by these standards?

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