INDIVIDUATION IN RELATION TO PARENTS: A CASE WITH SLOVENE EMERGING ADULT STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

This paper introduces some characteristics of emerging adulthood as having been observed in Slovenia over the past decades. Special attention was devoted to exploration of Slovene emerging adults’ individuation from their parents. Within the framework of individuation theory and country-specific context, several aspects of individuation in relation to mothers and fathers were investigated among 201 university students. Five reliable factors of individuation were revealed and a relatively strong agreement between student reports in relation to mothers and fathers occurred for the respective factors. Females and younger students expressed a stronger need for closeness with parents than males and older students. The students reported more need for closeness and engulfment anxiety in relation to mothers than fathers. At the same time, more detachment, fear of love withdrawal and ambivalence were perceived in relation to fathers than mothers. The students residing in their parents’ home exhibited less feelings of detachment in relation to mothers than their peers who lived out of their parents’ home. Intimate relationship status was not associated with any individuation variable. Students who see themselves more adult showed less fear of parental love withdrawal. Although the study revealed some interesting findings about individuation in the post-adolescent period, future research should consider other developmentally relevant domains of individuation in emerging adulthood which are not captured by existing instruments.

KEYWORDS: emerging adults, university students, individuation, achieved criteria for adulthood

PAGES:265-292