Helicopter Parenting and Boomerang Children

Drawing an unfavourable contrast between the position of students and graduates with that of their baby boomer parents has become a staple for media comment. Indeed, student indebtedness and difficulties in finding graduate jobs and housing typically contrasts markedly with their parents' experiences. Broadening the investigation, 'Helicopter Parenting' and 'Boomerang Children' depicts how students and graduates are now likely to be close to their parents, receive considerable financial and emotional support from them and, upon graduation, return home. Using qualitative data from two interview studies of middle-class families, this title explores the impact of these changes on young people's transition to independence and adulthood and on intergenerational and intragenerational equality. This enlightening monograph will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in fields such as Social Policy, Family Sociology and Education.

Anne West is Professor of Education Policy, LSE, UK Jane Lewis is Emeritus Professor of Social Policy, LSE, UK

Prelims Introduction Chapter 1 Parents and students: Financial support and student independence Chapter 2 Students and parents: Communication, emotional and practical support, and independence Chapter 3 Co-resident graduates and parents: Relationships, jobs and future expectations Chapter 4 Parents and co-resident graduates: Financial arrangements, responsibility and independence Concluding reflections