Adjustment to Transitions: Definitions of Terms

Using clear definitions is an essential prerequisite for the establishment of common ground upon which empirical results and theoretical models will be compared and their utility will be evaluated. Analysis of the terms and their definitions that are used in the domain of people’s adjustment to life-course transitions reveals a mixed use of terms to describe different processes or situations alongside interchangeable use of different terms to describe the same process. In this chapter, a definition of transition is proposed, which is based on the person’s subjective feelings and comprehension. Following this, a differentiation is made between four processes that are all related to times/experiences of transitions – these processes are coping, adaptation, adjustment, and socialization. Based on their different content, direction, and/or time perspective, these four terms are defined and their uniqueness is highlighted.