From Dreams to Reality: A Longitudinal Analysis of Youth Aspirations and Adulthood Achievements in Australia

Ann Evans , Australian National University
Edith E. Gray, Australian National University
Anna Reimondos, Australian National University

This research explores the life aspirations and subsequent realizations of Australian youth. In 2004, the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey asked young people aged 15-19 to rate how important it would be to achieve various life goals by age 35; including being married, having children, having a successful career or lots of money. The same young people were then surveyed annually until early in their 30s. Our initial focus is on discerning how background variables, including family environment and parental occupation, influence these adolescents' priorities for their futures. Following this, we examine the extent to which these ambitions were actualized by the time they reached their 30s and whether their background influenced this process. Preliminary results are that early life ambitions are strong predictors of achieving fertility and family goals. Young people who at age 15-19 indicated that being married, living in a long-term relationship, and having a child were very important to achieve by age 35 had a significantly faster transition to a first relationship and first birth compared to their peers who did not. Young people who placed higher importance on careers and financial stability for their future had varying degrees of success in achieving their goals. The juxtaposition of youthful aspirations with the realities encountered in adulthood provides critical insights into the dynamic interplay of personal ambitions, societal expectations, and life circumstances. This research gives us insights into the role of early-life influences in shaping outcomes in adulthood.

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 Presented in Session 75. Union Formation