The persisting influence of social class on transition to adulthood in Italy

This study examines the relationship between family background and the process of leaving the parental home in Italy, focusing on the social class heterogeneity in the timing and decision to leave the parental home for cohabitation, marriage, or independent living among three cohorts of women and men born between 1930 and 1976. Italians typically leave home late and the age at which young people leave their parental home has been increasing since the 1980s, raising concerns about shifting demographic transitions and broader societal implications. We analyse retrospective data from the ISTAT Multipurpose Survey on Families and Social Subjects (2009 and 2016) using event history analysis techniques. There is a persistent delay in leaving the parental home, particularly among women, who leave at similar ages as men in recent cohorts. Leaving home for marriage has decreased, replaced by cohabitation and independent living. A substantial social class gradient is evident in the timing of leaving home, particularly for women. Social class disparities also extend to patterns of leaving home for marriage or living alone, whereas cohabitation shows less class differentiation. Children of the working class are more likely to leave home for marriage than those from the service class and daughters from families with no employment history or deceased parents at younger ages. Conversely, they are less likely to leave home to live alone than those from higher socioeconomic classes. These social class disparities have widened over birth cohorts, particularly among women. The study highlights the persistent influence of social class on housing destinations and emphasizes its significance is shaping the transition to adulthood.