Boomerang offspring damage parents' wellbeing, study finds

Grown-up children who return to the family home after a period away, often at university, cause a significant decline in their parents’ quality of life and wellbeing, according to a revealing report which explores for the first time the impact of the so-called “boomerang generation” on family life in Europe.

The study by the London School of Economics (LSE) shows that after decades of growing independence among young adults and a dramatic decline in intergenerational co-residence, the trend is now shifting in the other direction.

And as grown-up children are increasingly driven back into the family home by rising housing costs and job insecurity, there are damaging consequences for parents.

Researchers found that couples, who have enjoyed a new lease of life as their children fly the nest with improved marital relationships and a fresh interest in new hobbies, may regard their offspring’s return as “a violation” of an exciting stage in their lives.

With about a quarter of young adults in the UK now living with their parents – the highest number since records began in 1996 and a trend replicated across Europe – the impact on family life appears to be widespread.

The LSE research, which is based on analysis of longitudinal data from the over-50s in 17 European countries between 2007-2015, is the first to look at the impact of the growing boomerang phenomenon. While the report acknowledges that co-resident adult children can be a source of emotional and practical support for older parents, it says they are also a source of conflict and stress in the family home.

Source: theguardian