When job hunting takes longer and rent feels heavy, moving out is not just a dream. It is an expensive decision.
That is one reason it is too simple to call every close parent–adult child relationship “dependence.”
A harder path to independence
For many young people, work can feel uncertain while housing costs keep rising. Living with family may be a practical safety net as well as an emotional one.
Closeness and dependence are different
Two people can live together and still respect each other’s choices. Two people can live apart and still be controlled by expectations.
The better question is whether the relationship gives both people more room to choose.
Economic pressure matters, but it is never the whole story of a family.