The Role of Self-Acceptance in Early Adulthood During Life Transitions: A Systematic Review

Self-acceptance is an important psychological aspect that supports mental health and psychological well-being, particularly during early adulthood, a period marked by various life transitions. During this phase, individuals face developmental demands such as identity exploration, the transition from education to the workforce, and the formation of interpersonal relationships, which often trigger stress and uncertainty. This study aims to examine the role of self-acceptance in early adulthood during life transitions using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach. Literature searches were conducted across several academic databases, covering publications from 2018 to 2025, and article selection followed the PRISMA guidelines. fourteen empirical studies were analyzed using thematic synthesis. The findings indicate that self-acceptance is positively associated with psychological well-being, emotion regulation, resilience, life satisfaction, and meaning in life, and serves as a protective factor against stress and anxiety during transitional periods.

early adulthood, life transition, self acceptance, systematic literature review

1. Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55(5), 469–480. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.5.469 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Buratta, et al. (2023). Factors influencing self-acceptance. (Emerging adulthood journal details). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Ferrari, M., Hunt, C., Harrysunker, A., Abbott, M. J., Beath, A. P., & Einstein, D. A. (2019). Self-compassion interventions and psychological outcomes. Mindfulness, 10(8), 1455–1473. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Huta, V. (2020). Eudaimonic and hedonic well-being. Current Opinion in Psychology, 39, 1–6. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Kim, S., & Lee, Y. (2018). The relationship between self-acceptance and psychological well-being in early adulthood. Journal of Adult Development, 25(3), 180–190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-018-9284-5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Kivity, Y., Tamir, M., & Huppert, J. D. (2021). Self-acceptance and emotional regulation in mental health. Emotion Review, 13(2), 123–135. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Li, X., Guo, L., Li, Y., Niu, Y., Wu, Y., & Ren, Y. (2022). Network analysis of self-acceptance structure in early adulthood. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1–12. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Li et al. (2025). The influence of self-acceptance on prosocial behavior. (Early adulthood). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Luyckx, K., Schwartz, S. J., & Klimstra, T. A. (2018). Identity formation in emerging adulthood. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 28(1), 27–45. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Neff, K. D. (2003). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2(2), 85–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309032 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Nguyen, T. H., Tran, Q. A., & Le, M. P. (2024). Self-acceptance and psychological adaptation during early adulthood transitions: A longitudinal study. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 55(1), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220221231234567 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Park, J., & Jung, S. (2025). The role of self-acceptance and self-compassion in mental health among young workers. Journal of Mental Health, 34(2), 210–221. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Pujilasti Agustina (2025). The relationship between body image and self-acceptance in young adult women. (Quantitative correlational study). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Rafi & Damri (2024). The relationship between self-acceptance and fear of negative evaluation. (Emerging adulthood study). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Rahmawati, D., & Putra, A. R. (2023). Self-acceptance and meaning in life among Indonesian young adults. Indonesian Journal of Psychology, 12(2), 145–158. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Santos, M. C., Pereira, A., & Costa, J. (2021). Self-acceptance and resilience during the transition to the first job. Career Development International, 26(4), 456–472. https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-08-2020-0223 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Vasile, C., Macavei, B., & Ciucur, D. (2019). Self-acceptance as a protective factor against stress in academic transitions. Education Sciences, 9(3), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci9030189 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• A Comparative Study of Adjustment Level, Parental Income and Academic Achievement of Adolescent Girls
• Increase in STIs among Adolescents in Masvingo District
• A Correlation between SDG 4 (Quality Education) and Emotional Disposition of Teacher Educators in Hyderabad District
• Ear Piercing Behaviour and Self-Esteem among Male University Students in Nigeria
• A Study of Religiosity and Psychological Well-Being