A Qualitative Study on the Contemporary Perspectives and Experiences of Co-residence During COVID-19 Among “Boomeranging” Young Adults and Their Mothers in England

The “Boomerang Effect” (BE) is a contemporary phenomenon in England and wider Europe, referencing young adults who move out of their parents’ home to live independently but eventually return to live with their parents again. Despite concerns about residential independence and the intensification of...

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Main Authors: Katrina Messiha, Gillian Stokes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-12-01
Series:SAGE Open
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241307473
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author Katrina Messiha
Gillian Stokes
author_facet Katrina Messiha
Gillian Stokes
author_sort Katrina Messiha
collection DOAJ
description The “Boomerang Effect” (BE) is a contemporary phenomenon in England and wider Europe, referencing young adults who move out of their parents’ home to live independently but eventually return to live with their parents again. Despite concerns about residential independence and the intensification of BE due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is limited qualitative data investigating it. This qualitative study utilizes diary methods to elicit the perspectives and experiences from six mother-young adult child dyads in England for 21 days to enable holistic and dynamic insights on the day-to-day exposures to the BE phenomenon. Findings resulted in several salient themes: (1) prime concerns shaping living arrangements, (2) framing of (participant) role, (3) conceptualization of [participant] identity, (4) nature of family relations, (5) depiction of independence, and (6) perceived situational input of Government. This work underscores the interdependent and complex relationship between structure and agency manifest in the BE context.
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spelling doaj-art-c8f5a3d2dd4f48309e2c043292b1b5bb2025-08-20T02:52:42ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402024-12-011410.1177/21582440241307473A Qualitative Study on the Contemporary Perspectives and Experiences of Co-residence During COVID-19 Among “Boomeranging” Young Adults and Their Mothers in EnglandKatrina Messiha0Gillian Stokes1UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UKUCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UKThe “Boomerang Effect” (BE) is a contemporary phenomenon in England and wider Europe, referencing young adults who move out of their parents’ home to live independently but eventually return to live with their parents again. Despite concerns about residential independence and the intensification of BE due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is limited qualitative data investigating it. This qualitative study utilizes diary methods to elicit the perspectives and experiences from six mother-young adult child dyads in England for 21 days to enable holistic and dynamic insights on the day-to-day exposures to the BE phenomenon. Findings resulted in several salient themes: (1) prime concerns shaping living arrangements, (2) framing of (participant) role, (3) conceptualization of [participant] identity, (4) nature of family relations, (5) depiction of independence, and (6) perceived situational input of Government. This work underscores the interdependent and complex relationship between structure and agency manifest in the BE context.https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241307473
spellingShingle Katrina Messiha
Gillian Stokes
A Qualitative Study on the Contemporary Perspectives and Experiences of Co-residence During COVID-19 Among “Boomeranging” Young Adults and Their Mothers in England
SAGE Open
title A Qualitative Study on the Contemporary Perspectives and Experiences of Co-residence During COVID-19 Among “Boomeranging” Young Adults and Their Mothers in England
title_full A Qualitative Study on the Contemporary Perspectives and Experiences of Co-residence During COVID-19 Among “Boomeranging” Young Adults and Their Mothers in England
title_fullStr A Qualitative Study on the Contemporary Perspectives and Experiences of Co-residence During COVID-19 Among “Boomeranging” Young Adults and Their Mothers in England
title_full_unstemmed A Qualitative Study on the Contemporary Perspectives and Experiences of Co-residence During COVID-19 Among “Boomeranging” Young Adults and Their Mothers in England
title_short A Qualitative Study on the Contemporary Perspectives and Experiences of Co-residence During COVID-19 Among “Boomeranging” Young Adults and Their Mothers in England
title_sort qualitative study on the contemporary perspectives and experiences of co residence during covid 19 among boomeranging young adults and their mothers in england
url https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241307473
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