Family Dynamics During Emerging Adulthood: Reviewing, Integrating, and Challenging the Field

Abstract

The present study seeks to review and integrate evidence from the empirical literature on family dynamics during the emerging adulthood years. Fifty studies were analyzed, resulting in the following research findings: (a) Emerging adulthood is a period of change in family relationships; (b) family systems anchor both individual and family development during emerging adulthood years; (c) reports of family dynamics by parents and children suggest intergenerational differences; (d) feeling "in between" is not only a characteristic of individuals but also a family experience; and (e) individualand family-level sociodemographic indicators shape family dynamics in emerging adulthood. The main challenges for future research entail considering the family as the unit of analysis by collecting data from multiple family members, conducting longitudinal studies to better understand changes in family relationships across emerging adulthood, and focusing on family relationships beyond the parent-child dyad. Research on emerging adulthood has burgeoned since Arnett (2000) first proposed that a new developmental period from the late teens

A Scoping Review of the Factors That Influence Families’ Ability or Capacity to Provide Young People With Emotional Support Over the Transition to Adulthood

“…For example, in terms of economic challenges, the economic recession, which began in 2007, has been a key event shaping parent-child ties and contributing to increases in co-residence between young adults and their parents in such countries as the United States and the United Kingdom (Fingerman, 2017;Fingerman et al, 2020). Moreover, the Covid-19 pandemic is another major event currently contributing to economic difficulty and uncertainty for young people and their families, which will have implications for families' experiences of the transition to adulthood (Oliveira et al, 2020).…”

“…Among studies that have investigated changes in sibling relationships across development, the majority have reported increased, improved, or stable emotional support, communication, and warmth among siblings during the transition to adulthood, as compared to earlier life (e.g., Halliwell, 2016;Killoren et al, 2016;Oliveira et al, 2020). On the other hand, research has also identified a decrease in support from grandparents over time, finding that grandparents are perceived as an important support source primarily in preadolescence (Spitz et al, 2020).…”

“…The findings from our review reflect general trends observed within the wider literature on family relations over the transition to adulthood. In general, there has been considerably less focus on sibling relationships in existing research, as compared to the parent-child relationship where the bulk of the research lies (Conger and Little, 2010;Oliveira et al, 2020). Even less research in this context has focused on young people's relationships with their grandparents and other extended family members (Lindell and Campione-Barr, 2017;Oliveira et al, 2020).…”

“…In general, there has been considerably less focus on sibling relationships in existing research, as compared to the parent-child relationship where the bulk of the research lies (Conger and Little, 2010;Oliveira et al, 2020). Even less research in this context has focused on young people's relationships with their grandparents and other extended family members (Lindell and Campione-Barr, 2017;Oliveira et al, 2020). Moreover, studies have often relied upon data collected from a single group of informants, such as young people or their parents or a selected sibling (Lindell and Campione-Barr, 2017;Oliveira et al, 2020).…”

“…However, in many ways it seems that the family still maintains a significant supportive presence in young people's lives over the transition to adulthood, with young adults often remaining dependent on their parents, at least financially and residentially, throughout their twenties (Lindell and Campione-Barr, 2017). Indeed, existing research has highlighted the role of the family as a crucial source of support for young people over the transition to adulthood, with young people appearing to draw on their families for emotional and material support over a longer period of time now, as compared to earlier generations (Oliveira et al, 2020).…”