Recent research has identified key ‘turning-points’ in young adults’ lives which influence whether or not they return to the parental home.
The study, which was carried out by researchers from the ESRC Centre for Population Change (CPC) at the University of Southampton, found that factors such as leaving full-time education, unemployment, or a relationship break-up, are highly significant in whether young people go back to living with their parents.
Although relationship break-ups and divorces have been identified as a major factor influencing young people’s decision to ‘return’, its influence can apparently vary depending on the young person’s gender and whether or not they have dependent children.
Researchers speculate that after a break-up or divorce, mothers and fathers may find support from different sources, with young lone mothers being more able to rely on the welfare state, and young, single, non-resident fathers requiring more support from their own parent(s).
However, more generally, the report authors suggest that the recent trend to form relationships later in life and the growing popularity of higher education has led to women now showing a greater similarity to men in their destinations on leaving home and the likelihood of returning to the parental home.
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