In a study conducted in rural China, where an emerging trend for leaving home in adolescence is challenging the environment an, Mertig & Liu discuss their findings: In summary, we found that (1) a person's tendency toward individualism is primarily impacted by his/her parents and perceived resource availability, with little impact from peers. This is somewhat inconsistent with findings in Western countries. (2) a person's attitudes towards leaving the parental home (an issue more specific than individualism) are primarily shaped by his/her tendency toward individualism, and perceived adverse effects. This conclusion is consistent with the findings of Gierveld et al. (1991). Parental attitude and behavior have insignificant impacts on adolescents' attitudes, while peers' behaviors have opposite influences on men and women. (3) a person's intention to leave the parental home and live independently is more complex, depending on both his/her preferences / attitudes and the perceived resource availability for so doing (especially for women), as suggested by Gierveld et al. (1991). (an, Mertig & Liu, 2003, p. 440)

This life cycle concept is applicable in western culture as the historical emphasis on the pinnacle of success surrounding young adulthood is independence from the family. There is also less evidence that such decisions are being made based on coupling, i.e. more young adults are leaving home prior to their marriage or long-term relationship development. In other words more young adults are living single, even if the age of leaving home is either lower or higher than the average. There is some sense that the trend noted by Martantz Henig (2010) has something to do with this challenge, living alone is lonely and wholly unlike living with a family, no matter your age or developmental level and it is also more costly than most expect.

This work discussed the concept of leaving home in the concept of the family life cycle. The tendency in western cultures and especially the U.S. has historically been for the age of leaving to decline, or remain relatively stagnant with an average of between 18 and 25 yet as economics and other factors have begun to emerge that have stressed the individual as well as the tendency to no longer leave home...

More and more young adults are either leaving home later or returning home. Culturally speaking the trend to allow western ideals of independence to pervade society have created a lowering age trend, even in rather traditional cultures, such as rural China. Social work practice is impacted in that the average ages for leaving home are fluctuating and could therefore result in some individuals using old cultural norms to deem themselves unsuccessful, if they have not yet left home or if they are returning home. "Nowadays, transitions to adulthood are no longer successively manageable sequences; rather, they are characterized by fluctuations, discontinuities, and reversals." (Seiffge-Krenke, 2009, p. 238) Social workers dealing with this kind of situation should aide the individual in determining what is right for them based on a whole host of issues and by aiding them in achieving desired success, based on the development of realistic goals and standards. This assignment offered insight into a growing trend in society, i.e. The ideation of failure to launch, which I believe is a social construct that is unresponsive to the individual. The individual needs to determine the best, i.e. most healthy living situation for them and then seek support to make such possible, be it at home or independent.
Resources

An, L. Mertig, a.G. & Liu, M. (May 2003) Adolescents Leaving Parental Home: Psychosocial Correlates and Implications for Conservation Population and Environment, 24, (5) 415-444.

Martantz Henig, R. (Aug. 18-2010) Why are so many people in their 20s taking so long to grow up? New York Times Magazine. Retrieved Feb10, 2011 at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html

Seiffge-Krenke, I. (2006) Leaving Home or Still in the Nest? Parent -- Child Relationships and Psychological Health as Predictors of Different Leaving Home Patterns Developmental Psychology 42, (5) 864 -- 876. DOI: 10.1037/0012-1649.42.5.864

Seiffge-Krenke, I. (2009) Leaving-Home Patterns in Emerging Adults the Impact of Earlier Parental Support and Developmental Task Progression European…