Unpacking intentions to leave the parental home in Europe using the Generations and Gender Survey

Abstract

BACKGROUNDComparative research has shown considerable cross-national differences in the age at leaving the parental home across Europe. Intentions to leave home might help to shed light on such marked heterogeneity in patterns of home-leaving. OBJECTIVEWe address to what extent personal preferences (measured by attitudes), normative pressure (measured by subjective norms), and structural barriers (measured by perceived behavioural control) are linked to leaving-home intentions. We also address whether such associations vary by country, gender, and age. METHODSWe use data for 12 European countries from the first wave of the Generations and Gender Survey. The sample is composed of young adults (aged 18 to 34) who had never left the parental home for at least three months after age 16 (N = 10,457). We employ multigroup factor analysis and binary logistic regression models to (1) compare the distribution of estimated means, variances, and correlations of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control towards leaving home and to (2) analyse the interactions between these three latent factors and country, sex, and age. RESULTSThe analyses show a North-West/South-East divide in leaving-home intentions among young adults and a large variation in the estimated means of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control across the 12 countries. Our analyses also overall confirm the relevance of these three factors as drivers for young adults' leaving-home

Ethnoracial disparities in intergenerational coresidence among Canadian millennial

“…In Europe, intergenerational coresidence is highest in Southern European countries and lowest in Scandinavia (Aassve et al, 2006(Aassve et al, , 2013Gillespie & Lei, 2021;Schwanitz et al, 2021). In Southern European countries, such as Italy and Spain, cultural barriers against independent living of young adults are exacerbated by high shelter costs, adverse labour market conditions and welfare regimes nonamenable to youth autonomy (Giannelli & Monfardini, 2003;Martinez-Granado & Ruiz-Castillo, 2002;Sironi, 2018;Vogel, 2002).…”

“…Intergenerational coresidence substantially varies across populations (Grundy & Murphy, 2018; Ruggles & Heggeness, 2008; Schwanitz et al, 2021; Van den Berg et al, 2021). In countries with weak family ties, individual autonomy and residential independence are highly valued, and young adults leave home sooner (Liefbroer & Billari, 2010; Schwanitz et al, 2021).…”

“…Intergenerational coresidence substantially varies across populations (Grundy & Murphy, 2018; Ruggles & Heggeness, 2008; Schwanitz et al, 2021; Van den Berg et al, 2021). In countries with weak family ties, individual autonomy and residential independence are highly valued, and young adults leave home sooner (Liefbroer & Billari, 2010; Schwanitz et al, 2021). But, in populations with family‐oriented cultures, children are socialized to respect and support their elders, maintain intergenerational bonds and generally satisfy parents' expectations (Boyd, 2000; Chen et al, 2016; Ho, 2019; Keefe et al, 2000; Mitchell et al, 2004).…”

“…Second, many purely demographic factors, such as sibship size, age of family formation, age of childbearing and life‐expectancy, all consequential for intergenerational coresidence, vary by ethnic origin (Seltzer & Bianchi, 2013). Finally, cultural norms about intergenerational coresidence vary strongly by ethnicity (Kornrich & Furstenberg, 2013; Patacchini & Arduini, 2016; Sun et al, 2019), even in relatively racially homogenous Europe (Gillespie & Lei, 2021; Schwanitz et al, 2021). Accordingly, in Canada, the rates of coresidence between adult children and their parents have been suggested to vary widely by immigration status and ethnic belonging (Jeong et al, 2014; Milan, 2016).…”

“…, even in relatively racially homogenous Europe (Gillespie & Lei, 2021;Schwanitz et al, 2021). Accordingly, in Canada, the rates of coresidence between adult children and their parents have been suggested to vary widely by immigration status and ethnic belonging (Jeong et al, 2014;Milan, 2016).…”