Final answer:
Arnett's research indicates that the two primary qualifications for adulthood among young people in the U.S. are being responsible for one's actions and striving for financial independence, as societal and economic shifts extend the timeline for reaching traditional adult milestones.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to respondents in Arnett's research with young people in the U.S., the two most important qualifications for reaching adult status include being responsible for the outcomes of your actions and taking steps toward financial independence. These criteria reflect a broader trend observed in Millennials, where traditional milestones of adulthood such as completing school, leaving home, becoming financially independent, marrying, and having a child are being attained later, if at all. The changing nature of the workforce, requiring higher education and the economic challenges leading to the phenomenon of the Boomerang Generation, as well as an extended period of exploration and establishment, contribute to this delay. Emerging adulthood is becoming a recognized phase, shaped by cultural, economic, and social factors, that uniquely defines the path to adult status.