Aim: The aim of the literature review was to describe how adulthood transition is used in health and welfare.
Design: A qualitative design with a deductive approach were used.
Methods: As material, 283 articles published in scientific journals, between 2011-August 2013, were selected. The search was conducted August 2013. The data were analysed and sorted in a categorization matrix.
Results: Transition was identified as a process mainly related to the four types previously identified; developmental, situational, health-illness and organizational transitions. Another one transition was also identified, lifestyle transition.
Keywords: developmental transition; health illness transition; life style transition; literature review; nurse education; organizational transition; situational transition.