Jeffrey arnett has proposed a new developmental stage for the years between age 18 and 25 that he calls:

This is emerging adulthood. This stage encompasses the time frame in which a person is typically without children, not living on their own, but also not having the means to be fully independent. This stage is typically defined as between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, since there are typically areas in which the person is still trying to develop an identity, such as in relationships and employment.