A new trend is changing the fabric of society, as an increasing number of adult children are choosing to reside in their parents' homes well into their 30s, experts have said.

Dr Leahcim Semaj, psychologist at The Job Bank, said, while there are advantages to the trend, adult children need to move on with their lives.

Among the advantages to the children that the expert identifies is the ability to save towards buying a house or to further their education.

However, he said these adults are expected to contribute to the financial requirements of the household.

Semaj noted that it is a mutually beneficial situation.

"For parents, having adult children at home provides companionship and security, especially if it's a small family so both sides can benefit from this," he told The Gleaner.

However, the psychologist said it must be a case where the parents accept the adult in the home as part of the family as well as on the grounds that the adult child is willing to be obedient.

"The parents can rightfully make demands of you, the child, because you live in their house so you can't assume full adult responsibility. Once you are living in the parents' house, you are partially a child."

On the contrary, psychologist Lorna Eaton said whether living under their parents' roof or not, adult children are just that - adults.

Worthwhile move

Eaton said they have the right to be treated as such, as the control parents can appropriately have over their lives and their conduct is significantly different from that while they were underage.

She added that the move can be worthwhile.

"Sometimes when parents are ageing they tend to give up on life and the child could very much take over caring for the house, so it can be a good move," she said.

However, she also pointed out the downside to having adult children at home for both parties. Aside from the inevitable squabbles over money and house rules, the adult children are expected to follow, she said the adult child may not fully mature, may develop low self-esteem and lose some sense of responsibility.

The parents might feel cheated out of the freedom the empty nest offers, resent continued financial burdens and wonder if they have failed in their responsibility to raise well-adjusted citizens.

Angella Richards said her daughter, Kimone Jackson, was unable to manage her finances due to the failure of her business, which was her sole source of income.

Richards said she did not hesitate to welcome her daughter as she re-joined the Linstead home she had left seven years earlier.

"I love my daughter and I think I am the person to be there for her when she needs help," Richards said.

Though few arguments have arisen between the two adults from time to time, Richards said she is happy for the company.

Jackson, 29, said she has no plans to leave her mother's nest again any time soon.

"I am just going to stay with my mother and sort out my life," she said.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com

"For parents, having adult children at home provides companionship and security, especially if it's a small family so both sides can benefit from this." - Semaj