The present study adopts a normative approach to examine the context-specific dilemmas and strategies experienced by individuals returning to their parental home after living independently. Through 31 in-depth interviews with individuals ranging in age from 22 to 31, we identified that the central communicative dilemma participants experienced was articulating the decision to move back home as an investment in the future rather than a source of stigma. Participants indicated various strategies to destigmatize the decision to move home and make the experience a positive step toward their futures and in their relationships with their families: communicate clear expectations, contribute to the household, embody adult behavior, and articulate clear timelines. The findings shed light on the complexities of creating an adult identity at a transitional time and supplement understanding of the moving—back—home experience by illustrating how adulthood embodies specific meanings in this context.

本研究采用一种规范的方法来研究个人独立生活后返回父母的个人所面临的因地制宜的困境和策略。通过对年龄在22至31岁之间的个人进行的31次深度访谈，我们发现参加者在交流中遇到的主要难题是明确表示决定搬回家作为对未来的一种投资，而不是一种污名化的来源。参加者指出了各种策略，以污名化回家的决定，并使经历成为迈向他们的未来以及与家人的关系的积极步骤：传达明确的期望，为家庭做出贡献，体现成人的行为并阐明明确的时间表。