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Homeleaving age norms: conflict or consensus?
J E Veevers1, E M Gee, A V Wister
1University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
International Journal of Aging & Human Development
|January 1, 1996
Summary
This study explores norms around the timing of adult children leaving home. Findings reveal variations in perceived appropriate homeleaving ages across generations and family types.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Family Studies
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Limited research exists on normative timing for family transitions, specifically homeleaving.
- Understanding homeleaving norms is crucial for analyzing contemporary family structures and young adult development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine norms regarding the appropriate timing of homeleaving.
- To investigate consensus on homeleaving age norms, generational and family type variations, conditioning factors, and social perceptions of adults living at home.
Main Methods:
- In-depth interviews were conducted with parents and adult children.
- The study included 218 "boomerang families" (adult child returned home) and 202 independently "launched" families.
Main Results:
- Analysis focused on consensus regarding homeleaving age norms.
- Variations in norms were examined by generation (parents vs. adult children) and family type.
- Factors influencing normative homeleaving age and social approval/disapproval were assessed.
Conclusions:
- Results contribute to life course perspective theories on age norms.
- Findings highlight the complexity and variability of homeleaving age norms in contemporary society.