Family obligation and the transition to young adulthood.
Changes in a sense of obligation to assist, support, and respect the family were examined among an ethnically diverse group of 745 American individuals as they began to move from secondary school into young adulthood. A sense of family obligation increased for all young adults, with slight variations according to ethnic and financial backgrounds. Young adults from Filipino and Latin American families reported the strongest sense of familial duty during young adulthood, which partially explained their tendency to live with and contribute financially to their families. The implications of family obligation for employment and educational persistence depended on age and academic performance in high school. Finally, a sense of family obligation was associated with more positive emotional well-being.
Fuligni
Andrew J
AJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, USA. afuligni@ucla.edu
Pedersen
Sara
S
D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004493:Education; D004644:Emotions; D004651:Employment; D005006:Ethnicity; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D012737:Sex Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors