Parent-Child Relationships

Emerging AdultsDeanna Campbell

Challenges Unique to Parent/Child Relations During Emerging Adulthood• Parent’s acknowledging the child's emerging adulthood

status. Parents must realize their child is growing up• The development of filial and parental maturityHaving a mature relationship is key.• The interplay of EA’s autonomy and dependency needs.The give and take between parents and EA’s

Factors that Influence Relationship Quality

• Interaction between parents and children at a earlier age• The previous history of what makes up the family• The EA’s individual development with life-course

transitions

Family Disruptions

• Divorce, custody arrangements, and remarriage equals a weaker relationship between children and parents.

• Divorce and associated painful memories can cause inter-parental conflict and reduced intimacy.

• Strong relationships are necessary for EA’s to have a successful launch into adulthood.

Going Away to College

• This transition can cause discontinuity and change between the parents and EA’s

• When the EA leaves it forces them and parents to engage in new patterns.

• Students away at school report more affection, communication, and independence from parents.

Family Financial Support

• Financial support to EA’s improves their chances of success into adult roles.

• Higher education is the most common support from parents to EA’s

• Parents sometimes use economic support to influence the behavior of EA’s

• The higher the income and number of children is a factor in determining how much support is supplied.

Types of Parenting

• Extremely involved (teaches skills, manners, & confidence)

• Hands off Approach (must live in order to learn)• Neglectful (no support, can be abusive)• Mom as BFF (friends, parents on EA’s level)• Helicopter Parents (incessant hovering)

Boomerang Kids Defined

• Named for the frequency with which they choose to cohabitate with their parents after a brief period of living on their own – thus boomeranging back to their place of origin. This cohabitation can take many forms, ranging from situations that mirror the high dependency of pre-adulthood to highly independent, separate-household arrangements.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boomerang_Generation

Boomeranging

• In 2007, 38% women & 43% men aged 20-24 were living with their parents.

• Some reasons for moving back home include: a serious crisis (financial or personal), or pursuing higher education.

• The parent/child relationships have both emotional and practical support for both parties.

Damaged Relationships

• When a parent abuses drugs/alcohol, or are physically/emotionally abusive, or mentally unstable there are profound effects on the children.

• Foster children make up 20,000 youth every year.• These EA’s must have resilience to succeed without much,

if any structured family support.