Final answer:
The primary reason for more emerging adults staying at home is economic factors and financial independence challenges, contributing to the Boomerang Generation phenomenon.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main reason why more emerging adults are staying in the nest is primarily due to economic factors and financial independence. The challenges faced by Millennials, such as increased requirements for education to enter the workforce, high competition for jobs, and the rising costs of living, have made it harder for young adults to achieve financial independence and meet traditional adulthood milestones. This has led to the phenomenon known as the Boomerang Generation, where young adults return to live with their parents after college due to inadequate employment opportunities.
Cultural shifts have also influenced this trend, with changing attitudes toward marriage and family, leading many to delay these commitments. Societal expectations and economic realities combined mean that today's young adults are postponing the traditional markers of adulthood, such as completing school, leaving home, marrying, and having children, which were outlined by Henig (2010).