Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine parents’ attitudes about and patterns of providing financial assistance to their
children during college, and how varying levels of parental financial support were related to children’s beliefs (e.g., perceptions
of adulthood), behaviors (e.g., work hours, drinking, and drug use), and identity development. The sample consisted of 402
undergraduate students (62% women) recruited from four college sites across the United States (M age = 19.89), and one of their parents (310 mothers and 92 fathers). Using cluster analysis, results suggested four distinct
approaches to parental financial involvement and found that emerging adults’ beliefs, behaviors, and identity development
differed as a function of parents’ cluster membership. Discussion focuses on implications for emerging adult children whose
parents endorse varying levels of financial involvement.
children during college, and how varying levels of parental financial support were related to children’s beliefs (e.g., perceptions
of adulthood), behaviors (e.g., work hours, drinking, and drug use), and identity development. The sample consisted of 402
undergraduate students (62% women) recruited from four college sites across the United States (M age = 19.89), and one of their parents (310 mothers and 92 fathers). Using cluster analysis, results suggested four distinct
approaches to parental financial involvement and found that emerging adults’ beliefs, behaviors, and identity development
differed as a function of parents’ cluster membership. Discussion focuses on implications for emerging adult children whose
parents endorse varying levels of financial involvement.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10804-011-9134-y
- Authors
- Laura M. Padilla-Walker, School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, 2097 JFSB, Provo, UT 84602, USA
- Larry J. Nelson, School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, 2091 JFSB, Provo, UT 84602, USA
- Jason S. Carroll, School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, 2057 JFSB, Provo, UT 84602, USA
- Journal Journal of Adult Development
- Online ISSN 1573-3440
- Print ISSN 1068-0667