Final answer:
The increase in boomerang children is due to economic challenges preventing young adults from securing adequate employment, as well as cultural shifts that emphasize extended education and career flexibility. These societal changes result in delayed traditional milestones and increased multigenerational households with both elderly parents and adult children living under one roof.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are several likely reasons for the increase in parents having boomerang children. Economic factors play a significant role; the economic stall has led many Millennials to postpone adulthood, as adequate employment opportunities post-college are scarce, resulting in financial dependency on parents. Additionally, cultural changes have contributed to this trend, with greater emphasis on education and career flexibility causing delays in traditional milestones like marriage and family formation. The Boomerang Generation often finds itself competing for unpaid internships or temporary jobs, further prolonging their financial independence and leading to a return to the parental home.
These trends are influenced by broader societal shifts, including extended lifespan in industrialized nations and changing norms around family structure and responsibility. For example, there has been a noticeable transition from agrarian societies, where the elderly contributed to the household, to industrial societies where aging populations are often seen as burdensome. This also impacts living situations as the expectation for multigenerational households shifts, and more adults find themselves caring for aging parents while also accommodating returning adult children.