With the housing crisis forcing more young adults to live at home with their parents, many are questioning what exactly the effects of this are on their transition to adult independence
Senior clinical psychologist Dr. Anne Kehoe explained that while families can adapt to this arrangement, it often leads to young adults either keeping adolescent behaviours or reverting back to them overtime.
“When you don’t move out and take on responsibilities like managing bills or cooking, you can feel held back,” Dr. Kehoe said.
Everyday comforts, like having meals prepared or relying on parents for transport, can unintentionally undermine independence.
This situation also impacts the parent-child dynamic. Parents, who are so used to guiding their children, may struggle to step back and can continue to treat their adult children as teenagers.
“Parents can’t simply stop giving advice – they grew up in different times, and sometimes their guidance is helpful, but young adults need the freedom to make mistakes,” she explained.
For adult children, this lack of autonomy can harm self-esteem and confidence, and can also create tensions, especially around privacy.
“If someone feels blocked from fully living their life – whether it’s sneaking a partner home or avoiding conflict – it can strain relationships,” Dr. Kehoe said.
Communication often becomes a challenge. Unlike teenagers, young adults may not voice frustrations directly, leading to unspoken resentments.
Parents may tolerate irritating habits until tensions boil over, resulting in hurt feelings on both sides.
Dr. Kehoe noted the housing crisis has exacerbated these issues, delaying independence for many.
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