Keywords

emerging adulthood, parental financial involvement, college students, autonomy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine parents’ attitudes about and patterns of providing financial assistance to their children during college, and how varying levels of parental financial support were related to children’s beliefs (e.g., perceptions of adulthood), behaviors (e.g., work hours, drinking, and drug use), and identity development. The sample consisted of 402 undergraduate students (62% women) recruited from four college sites across the United States (M age = 19.89), and one of their parents (310 mothers and 92 fathers). Using cluster analysis, results suggested four distinct approaches to parental financial involvement and found that emerging adults’ beliefs, behaviors, and identity development differed as a function of parents’ cluster membership. Discussion focuses on implications for emerging adult children whose parents endorse varying levels of financial involvement.

Original Publication Citation

Padilla-Walker, L. M., Nelson, L. J., & Carroll, J. S., (2012). Affording Emerging Adulthood: Parental Financial Assistance of Their College-Aged Children. Journal of Adult Development, 19, 50-58.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2011-11-24

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/7162

Publisher

Journal of Adult Development

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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