Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.32676/n.8.1.2
Leaving parental home in Croatia
Valerija Botrić
orcid.org/0000-0001-5482-7490
Abstract
The paper analyses the circumstances of leaving the parental home in Croatia, with particular attention
to analysing the intentions of young adults still residing with their parents. Based on a survey
conducted in April 2021 on a nationally representative sample of 1001 people aged 16-29 years, the
characteristics of young people living with their parents are compared to those who have left parental
homes. In addition, for the young people residing with parents, we analyse factors affecting their
intention to leave parental home. The need for independence has been identified as the main reason
young people who want to leave parental homes, while finances present the main obstacles. Results
show that the significant positive predictors of staying in the parents' homes are the relative wealth of
the household (identified by own room), male respondents and primary educational attainment of the
respondent. Significant negative predictors of staying in the parents' home are residence in relatively
larger settlements (relative to the villages), higher education of the respondents, and respondents'
self-assessment about their empowerment to make the leave decision. This last identified factor points
to the need to design educational programs that would help youth to be well prepared for decisionmaking on housing independence.
Keywords
housing; leaving parental home; youth; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
287420
URI
Publication date:
17.12.2022.
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