Age of independence 'on the rise'

Fear of debt turns many young people off higher education

Young people are finding it harder to break away and become independent of their parents, research suggests.

A survey of 70 families found nine out of 10 parents felt it was difficult for young adults to take financial control.

Researchers blamed the trend on the number of young people continuing in education and said this was creating problems for them and their parents.

The Keele University study found that the age of independence had in effect, risen from 18 to 24 years of age.

Responsibilities

Author of the research, Professor Jill Jones, said: "We found that parents were unclear about their responsibilities, as indeed is family law.

"Most thought their legal obligation to provide food, clothing and shelter ended at 16 rather than 18.

"Many knew of no legal obligation to support children who are students or low-paid workers, although government policies affecting young people tend to assume that basic maintenance will be subsidised by parents into the mid-twenties - the middle class pattern."

Interviews were carried out with young people aged between 16 and 25 including full-time workers, students, unemployed and full-time mothers and their parents.

Researchers found young people turned to parents for financial help, with grandparents, partners and in-laws only coming into play where there was no support from home.

About 90% of parents also felt it was harder for young people to stand on their own feet now because of financial constraints, according to the study, which was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Though 61% of young people thought their families had helped a lot, 16% said they received little or no assistance.

Only 39% thought their parents could have afforded to help more.

Dropped out

Elsewhere, researchers found many young people from a middle-class background were still far more likely to go on to higher education and defer their independence while many from a working-class background expect jobs and independence earlier.

Further education students who could not live at home and had no family support were more likely to drop out of courses, they found.

Some students dropped out explicitly for financial reasons and others said they could not justify the expense.

Fear of debt put many off higher education altogether.

Professor Jones added: "Parents and students have to be able to identify returns on their investment, so there is pressure on young people to succeed both academically and in future careers.

"Two unemployed graduates thought work experience might have been more useful, as did some parents."

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Your comments

It is no surprise that young people are struggling financially when a Labour government takes away the right to a free education. Surely, it is in society's interest to encourage further education and to have people in their twenties with money to invest? Putting a generation thousands of pounds in debt does not do this.
Tim, Herts, UK

There is so much that people are expected to pay for these days that it is impossible to be independent. University guarantees around £15,000, then of course, we need to start our pensions the minute we turn 18 and even then will have to work well into normal retirement age. We are expected to look after our elderly relations and save for our children's education before we've finished paying for our own. There is little chance that we will be able to afford our own homes.
Ellie, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

The youth of today do have a hard time financially. They are required to have university degrees for positions that used to be met with just A-levels. Furthermore, house prices growth has outstripped wages for many years - and of course they don't benefit from tax relief on their mortgage-interest payments (MIRAS) as their parents would have done.
James MacDonald, London, UK

The real issue that is delaying independence from one's parents is house prices. At this rate, everyone of my generation (I am 21) will be living at home with their parents until the age of 50. Unfortunately, I cannot count on an inheritance to get me onto the property ladder.
Graeme Phillips, Midsomer Norton, UK