Views of adulthood in Austria PREPRINT VERSION. DO NOT CITE. 1 What does it take to be an adult in Austria? – Views of adulthood in Austrian adolescents, emerging adults, and adults Ulrike Sirsch 1 , Eva Dreher 1 , Eva Mayr 3 , and Ulrike Willinger 2 1 University of Vienna, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Developmental Psychology and Psychological Assessment, Austria. 2 Medical University of Vienna, University ENT Clinic, Austria. 3 Danube University Krems, Research Center KnowComm, Department for Knowledge and Communication Management, Austria. Keywords: adolescence; emerging adulthood; adulthood; transition to adulthood; life changes; developmental task; Austria Ulrike Sirsch is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Austria. Her research focus in the field of developmental psychology is on concepts of transition and critical life events over the life course. Eva Dreher is Professor at the Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Austria. Her research topics focus on adolescence and emerging adulthood, developmental tasks over the life course, and concepts of developmental psychopathology. She is the author of the chapter “Germany” in the Routledge International Encyclopedia of Adolescence edited by J. J. Arnett. Eva Mayr is Research Associate at the Research Center KnowComm, Danube University Krems, Austria. Her research interests lie in the area of informal and lifelong learning. She co- authored the chapter “Austria” in the Routledge International Encyclopedia of Adolescence edited by J. J. Arnett. Ulrike Willinger is Associate Professor at the Medical University of Vienna. Her research interest is in cognitive, social, and emotional development in childhood. Correspondence address: Ulrike Sirsch, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Vienna, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Developmental Psychology and Psychological Assessment, Liebiggasse 5/1, A-1010 Vienna, Austria. Telephone: 43-1-4277-478-65, Fax: 43-1-4277-478-69, email: ulrike.sirsch@univie.ac.at