Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Gen Y Not Slackers, Just Slow Starters
Live Science ^ | March 24, 2011 | Unknown

Posted on 03/25/2011 6:25:42 AM PDT by decimon

Generation Y is often thought of as a slacker group of young adults who have failed to launch, delaying real careers and families until later in life. But new research suggests their heavy dependence on Mom and Dad might ultimately prepare them to be successful adults.

Specifically, the study found this generation of "emerging adults" turns to parental support in times of difficultly and as a way to advance their careers in a job market geared toward the highly educated, though most are weaned from such support by their early 30s.

"On a general level, people have concerns about young adults being more dependent than their parents' or grandparents' generations," said researcher Teresa Swartz of the University of Minnesota.

In the mid-20th century, most parents could safely assume their children would be full-fledged adults by their mid 20s, economically stable with their own homes and families. Five decades later, half of twentysomethings are still supported by their parents in some capacity at age 24, the study shows.

"People know that it is a challenge to be a young adult and start off your adult life today," Swartz said. "It's taking longer to find their job and move out of their parental home."

A 2009 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 13 percent of parents with grown children say an adult son or daughter had moved back home over the past year for various reasons, including the recession, with most so-called "boomerangers" in the 18 to 34 age group.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: generationy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-46 last
To: hal ogen; GlockThe Vote
If they can’t afford to live on their own, they should find several similar-situation roommates

True. Did that, first had to bunk with an college in a small one-room apartment. Then 6 in a two bedroom. Then 2 in a two bedroom. Finally could rent a place on my own and finally saved enough to put a down-payment on an apartment (but that was post-marriage when we wanted a place!)

. Also, why stop at working 40 hours per week? There are 168 hours per week available to each of us. Give 8 hours per day for sleep, 2 1/2 hours per day for eating and 1 hour per day of personal hygiene that leaves about 87 1/2 hours for work each week...earning $$$$$

Done that too -- and invested the money. Yes, it was worth it. Also, you can put in 80-100 hour weeks only when you're in your twenties or thirties. I think once you have a family, wife/husband and kids, it is too difficult and too much of a toll on your health.

But, it was worth it -- I can now afford a better quality of life for my family.

41 posted on 03/25/2011 8:05:11 AM PDT by Cronos (Palin+Jindal: 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: hal ogen
He just didn’t sit back and moan about the stress and the responsibility...and play video games

True. Video games and MPP are highly addictive and an utter waste of time.

So that meant even more pressure for young people to make something of them selves. They didn’t have much time. -- well, 17 was not young. By the age of 17 in 300 BC you would have been married, with kids, have been working for at least 5 years and also might have killed a few

however -- you would be living in one home with your parents, uncles, cousins and grandparents and maybe great-grandparents -- there was no individuals going out on their own, not even an atomic family going out on their own. It was a different world.

42 posted on 03/25/2011 8:07:54 AM PDT by Cronos (Palin+Jindal: 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: hal ogen

Many are still in college at 23-24, so it can be hard to really launch until 25.

I didn’t get my post-college job until 24, thank goodness before the economy tanked a few years ago.

Now, if you are not launching and 27-28 out of school, that’s a problem.

Frankly, I wish I had stayed home for six months to save up some money once I started that job. It’s hard to save money when the car breaks, wife gets sent to the ER etc.


43 posted on 03/25/2011 8:15:39 AM PDT by rwfromkansas ("Carve your name on hearts, not marble." - C.H. Spurgeon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: DennisR

I have a decent job and am married, launching pretty much right out of college.

The only issue is...my wife wants kids. I am not sure if we can afford them.

The budget calculators online say to plan for $500 a month. Is that realistic?


44 posted on 03/25/2011 8:21:14 AM PDT by rwfromkansas ("Carve your name on hearts, not marble." - C.H. Spurgeon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy; decimon; GlockThe Vote; ladyvet; hal ogen

Frankly, wasn’t multi-generational households the norm not that far back ago?

My dad recently ‘lost’ his house (sold it to pay for repairs of the sewer line and foundation), and is now living with my family.

My in-laws (in their 60’s and 70’s), have had my grand-mother-in-law move in with them, as she’s in her 90’s.

You take care of family. Period.


45 posted on 03/25/2011 8:34:20 AM PDT by Ro_Thunder (I sure hope there is a New Morning in America soon. All this hope and change is leaving me depressed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Ro_Thunder

I agree.


46 posted on 03/25/2011 9:00:57 AM PDT by ladyvet ( I would rather have Incitatus then the asses that are in congress today.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-46 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson