The generation that is dependent on their parents.

VnExpress•27/02/2024

Bethany Clark graduated from college in 2021 and moved back in with her parents, intending to stay for just a year, but it has now lasted three years.

The 24-year-old woman from Surrey spent her first year studying to become a teacher, so she had no income. However, when she landed a teaching job the following year, she still didn't leave. "I couldn't move out without saving money," Bethany said.

Two years later, she was still living with her parents and continuing this plan. Bethany joined the ranks of 620,000 young adults in the UK who still live with their parents.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows a similar trend. The percentage of young people living with family has increased by 87% over the past 20 years, with 50% of Gen Z aged 18-24 choosing to live with the same parents.

According to the latest survey by the home rental service RentCafe, 41% of Gen Z say they will live with their families for at least another two years.

This trend started in the housing market. A 2022 report by market research firm Moody's showed that the average American spends 30% of their income on rent.

The rental system HotPads estimates that Gen Z will spend $226,000 on rent, $24,000 more than Gen Y and $77,000 more than baby boomers.

This has created significant pressure on young people. In a 2023 survey by market research firm Harris Poll of 4,100 adults, 70% of those aged 18-29 who live with their parents said they would not be financially stable if they lived independently.

"I work near my family, so there's no reason why I should pay expensive rent just to have a little more space," Clark said. She only pays a small amount to her parents and saves almost all of her income.

Similarly with home ownership, data from the National Association of Realtors shows that the average age of first-time homebuyers has reached a record high of 36.

One-third of adults surveyed by Freddie Mac in 2022 said buying a home was something they would never achieve.

According to a survey by market analysis firm Harris Poll, 40% of Gen Z say they are happy living at home, while one-third feel this is a wise choice. 87% also said that you shouldn't judge someone because they live with their parents.

"I've never received any negative feedback, not even from older generations," Clark said. "The exorbitant cost of living and housing is something everyone understands."

However, not everyone agrees. A survey by the Pew Research Institute found that one-third of Americans believe that young people living with their parents has a negative influence, while only 16% believe it is a positive thing.

Research from the American Institute of Urban Studies indicates that people aged 25-34 who live with their parents are more likely to own a home after 10 years. The study compared living independently with living with parents.

Over the past decade, 32% of young people who previously lived with their parents still lack the independence and self-reliance that most independent renters have achieved.

Sarah Obator, 20, moved back in with her family in Georgia after dropping out of school due to mental health issues. She felt like a burden, trapped at home.

"Parents still see you as a child no matter how old you are," she said. Her two older siblings, 27 and 29, also live at home.

Sarah Obator couldn't stand it anymore, so she planned to return to university in the fall, intending to live in the school dorms. She hoped to be able to find her own place after graduation.

A 2022 study showed that people who return to live with their families may experience some stress.

"You live with your family, but you still want to be yourself," says Prabash Edirisingha, a professor at Northumbria University. "That's the boundary between personal and family space."

Professor Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, a psychology professor at Clark University, says young people are going through a new phase of life. In previous eras, people thought about marriage or having children as milestones, but most Gen Z don't have these responsibilities.

"That doesn't mean they're lazy or unwilling to grow, it's just that times have changed," Arnett said.

Ngoc Ngan (According to Business Insider )

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