Full nest syndrome: what to do when adult children don’t leave their parents’ house

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The number of people aged 25-34 who still live with their parents increased by 137% between 2012 and 2022

Since the turn of the century, for social and economic reasons, adult children are taking longer and longer to leave their parents’ home. A survey by Kantar IBOPE Media shows that the so-called kangaroo generation, as these individuals are known, has been growing in Brazil. The number of people aged 25-34 who still live with their parents increased by 137% between 2012 and 2022.

“Many parents have felt exhausted by the fact that their children are not able to acquire autonomy in adult life and leave home”,

warns Filipe Colombini, psychologist, parental advisor and founder of Equipe AT.

“The full nest syndrome, an allusion made in relation to the ’empty nest’, brings a feeling of frustration for parents, who feel that they have failed in raising their children, usually causing a lot of discomfort within the family environment”, concludes the psychologist .

The situation has generated conflicts related to the imposition of rules and limits and also problems caused by generational differences, in addition to an embarrassing financial dependence.

“The extension of this relationship between parents and children in the same house brings parental stress that can cause enormous suffering, evolving into psychiatric conditions, such as depression and anxiety”,

explains the expert.

The causes of the “full nest syndrome” are related to many variables: atypical development; deficits in social skills, activities of daily living; difficulty in forming responsibility and autonomy.

“The problem usually comes from a relationship of codependency, caused by negligent or overprotective attitudes on the part of the parents, where the children are unable to grow up and walk on their own legs”,

Columbini account.

The psychologist adds that, in cases of children who take time to leave home, it is essential to seek professional help.

“With the support of a psychologist or parenting counselor, parents can learn to better manage their own feelings and also conflicts at home, in addition to learning about educational techniques to help their children develop greater autonomy”,

says Filipe Colombini.

*With advisory information

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