Stuck in Transition: When Delayed Adulthood Becomes Failure to Launch
By: Jack Vaughan
Understanding the Root of Delayed Adulthood
Today, there is no lack of click-bait articles bemoaning the steady rise of failure to launch among young adults. Pick an article and you will likely find one of two common themes… 1) these tech savvy digital nomads don’t want to settle down and give up their care-free lifestyles, or 2) these over-protected adult-children are too fragile and risk-averse to dare leave their parent’s home.
Here is a surprising truth that you won’t find featured in such articles: we are not living in the first time in U.S. history when young adults have experienced a delayed adulthood. In fact, in 1900, 41 percent of adults, ages 18 to 29, lived with their parents, and this rose to 48 percent following the Great Depression. Those rates are higher than what surveys are finding today, yet we don’t chalk that generation’s actions up to hedonism and fragility. So, what is really going on?
Nancy E. Hill, a Developmental Psychologist at Harvard, has a refreshing take. According to her research, the journey to adulthood has far more to do with shifting economies and the accessibility of the workforce than anything else. Consider the well-paying manufacturing jobs that were abundant in the 1950s. Such jobs made starting a family and buying a home a tangible possibility for millions of Americans. That kind of job-accessibility, combined with the purchasing power of the time, did not exist in the 1890s, and it certainly does not exist now.
Be that as it may, there is indeed a modern resurgence of delayed adulthood, and it is affecting young adults across America. Here’s a closer look at the stats…
The Modern Landscape of Delayed Adulthood
According to U.S. Census data from 2021, one in three U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 34 still live in their parents’ home.
Pew researchers found that U.S. Millennials with only a high school degree were twice as likely to live with their parents than their peers who had graduated from college.
In 2021, the NIH reported that 18% to 40% (median 32.1%) of youth meet failure to launch criteria (in education, work, residential independence, marriage/family).
A 2023 study conducted by USA Today found that 65% of parents give their adult children (ages 22-40) some kind of financial support.
It is plain to see that delayed adulthood has become a highly prevalent phenomenon among young adults today. What is less obvious are the detrimental effects it is having on the young adult psyche and how it is engendering concerning rates of failure to launch (FTL).
Failure to Launch and Poor Mental Health: A Vicious Cycle
Anxiety, depression, addiction, and trauma are all common factors that contribute to FTL. If left unchecked, these issues can compound and make it increasingly difficult for young adults to launch into independence. Furthermore, research shows that poor mental health significantly contributes to FTL, and that FTL, in turn, exacerbates underlying mental health issues. The result is often a brutal, negative feedback loop that can take months, if not years, to overcome.
A longitudinal study in the Journal of Youth Studies tracked over 800 young adults for 5 years. It found that consistently failing to launch between ages 25 to 30 showed nearly 3 times higher rates of depression by age 30 compared to those who achieved adulthood milestones.
Research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2021 concluded that the lack of adult achievements was associated with increased anxiety, social isolation, lowered self-confidence, negative mood, and feelings of shame/self-blame among young people experiencing failure to launch.
A 2022 study in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that young adults (ages 24-32) who failed to achieve traditional adult milestones exhibited higher rates of depression and worse mental health compared to peers who transitioned successfully.
Creating a Virtuous Cycle
However, delayed adulthood doesn’t have to spiral into failure to launch. With the right interventions, parents can help reverse this vicious cycle in several ways:
Work with a parent coach who can help reset family boundaries, decrease parental accommodations, and target a move-out date.
Hire a youth mentor to impart essential life skills, support healthy habits, and accomplish vocational goals.
Work with professional clinicians who can prescribe necessary medications.
While history shows that the young adult journey to adult independence is always in flux, the destination remains the same. With careful interventions and professional guidance, parents can empower their children to overcome FTL, find purpose, and successfully embark on adulthood.
With bespoke services and state-of-the-art care, we have helped scores of young adults, and their parents navigate the tumultuous waters of FTL and get un-stuck.
If you are struggling to help your children launch, you’re not alone. Connect with us today and learn more about the unique ways in which Youth Prevention Mentors is helping young adults and adolescents achieve independent adulthood.
