It’s hardly breaking news that young adults are living at home longer.
Of course there are exceptions, but it appears that the idea of leaving the nest immediately following college graduation is long gone.
The current economy makes establishing financial independence a difficult feat. From a sociological perspective, extended mooching off Mom and Dad seems to be trending. Many young adults either are saving the money they do have, basking in domestic convenience, or simply waiting for the right living opportunity.
Overall, it seems they’re just not ready to take the next step.
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I hate it (it did not happen in this article) when people in my generation are presented as lazy or slackers or moochers for living with their parents after college. As a side note: I did not live with my parents after college. College doesn’t really allow you to be able to save up a nest egg to live off of once you graduate especially with the cost of college today. People say that part of the downfall of society is that people don’t have those close ties with their families, but then generation Y kids are seen as lazy for keeping those closer ties. It seems like the older generations just want to find something to blame the younger ones for.
My wife and I have raised 3 children. The oldest went to USC and earned a degree he doesn’t use nor wants to but has a job and is living in another state and doing OK. The middle child went to college but didn’t finish and is living in another state but managing to work. Our youngest went to college but didn’t finish, moved back home and stayed. As long as they have “some” income, my wife and I expect some rent for ‘room and board’ and that’s fine with him. He also does yard work and minor repairs on/in the house when needed (handyman type stuff). All 3 of us are fine with this arrangement as my wife and I aren’t getting any younger and appreciate the help.
Everything costs many times more than it did when my wife and I graduated from high school and wages haven’t kept up with inflation…I don’t know how anyone could be expected to “leave the nest” like we did back in 1971 or 1973. Heck, a loaf of WHITE bread only cost 39 CENTS at that time! What does one cost now? How many 1000′s (thousands) of a percent has it gone up from then to now? OK, how much have wages gone up since then? Notice the difference?
Is it any wonder? It isn’t always a choice but a necessity!
In today’s economy it’s no wonder that many individuals are living at home well into and past their 20′s. There can be two schools of thought on this…either these young adults are lazy (which I doubt they are) or they are being smart by staying at home and hopefully saving/pooling resources. Furthermore, based on Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development these young adults are in the generativity vs. stagnation stage where they are pursuing careers and working on leaving their mark on the world, developing the virtue of care. However, if the young adults living at home are simply passing time, per Erickson, they are in crisis and will be stagnated.