Latest news with #youngadults
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
UK housing crisis sparks 10% increase in young British adults living with their parents - while more than half of people living alone now are pensioners
Soaring housing costs have sparked an increase of almost 10 per cent in the number of young British adults failing to move out of their parents homes, new figures reveal today. The number of those aged 20-34 still living with mum and/or dad rose from 3.3 million in 2014 to 3.6 million last year, the Office for National Statistics said. The figures suggest fewer people are leaving home in their mid 20s, with issues like rent and mortgage costs and the uncertain job market affecting their choices. The proportion is higher among men, with a third of those in this age group still with their parents, compared to a quarter of women, with the difference most prevalent in the early and late 20s. The ONS said it was part of 'a trend of adults reaching milestones later in life' which could be explained by 'a number of factors including increased housing costs'. The data also revealed that pensioners accounted for more than half (51 per cent) of all people living alone in the UK last year, up from 45 per cent in 2014. Over 65s were the only age group where the number of people living alone actually rose, thanks to increasing life expectancy. A higher proportion of women aged 65 years or over lived alone (40.9 per cent) than men of the same age (27 per cent). Labour has pledged to deliver 1.5 million homes before the next election and has introduced major changes to the planning system. Angela Rayner has also announced plans to build 180,000 new social homes in the next decade as the Government seeks to 'turn the tide on the housing crisis'. The figure would be six times the number of social homes built in the 10 years up to 2024. It forms part of a drive to build 300,000 new social and affordable properties by 2035, backed by a £39 billion investment announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in last month's spending review. But housing charity Shelter has argued that the Government needs to build 90,000 new social homes a year for the next decade – five times the figure Ms Rayner has committed to. According to Shelter, building 90,000 social homes a year would clear waiting lists, which currently stand at around 1.3 million households, and end the use of temporary accommodation.
The Guardian
7 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Young men in UK more likely to live with parents than women
Young men are more likely to live at home with their parents than women of the same age, with a third of 20-34-year-old men in the UK now living in their parental home. Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed 33.7% of men aged 20-34 lived with parents in 2024, compared with less than a quarter (22.1%) of women the same age. In total, the number of young people aged 20-34 living with their parents has risen by 10% over the past decade, from 3.3 million in 2014 to 3.6 million in 2024. The ONS said this was 'part of trend of adults reaching milestones later in life', and could be 'explained by a number of factors including increased housing costs'. This reflects a trend seen across Europe, where data from an EU agency showed the proportion of 25- to-34-year-olds in employment living in their parental home had risen from 24% to 27% between 2017 and 2022. The data also showed a rise in the number of people living alone in the UK in the past decade has been driven by an increase in older people aged over 65. In 2024, there were an estimated 4.3 million people aged over 65 living alone, up from 3.5 million in 2014. The increase means that half of all people living alone in the UK were aged 65 years or over in 2024. The ONS said this 'reflects an ageing population' and there was a higher proportion of women over 65 years living alone (40.9%) than men of the same age (27.0%), because of higher life expectancy for women. The data estimated there were 8.4 million people living alone in the UK in 2024, up 11% from 7.6 million in 2014. The data on families and household types in the UK also showed that the proportion of lone parents who are fathers has grown, from 13.1% a decade ago, to 16.7% last year. While married couples still made up the largest proportion of families in the latest estimates, this has decreased to 65.1% last year from 67.1% in 2014. The ONS said this was down to more couples living together without getting married.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kids who own smartphones before age 13 have worse mental health outcomes: Study
Children, especially girls, who own smartphones before they are 13 years old may have worse mental health outcomes when they're older, a new study suggests. The study, published Sunday in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, analyzed self-reported questionnaire results from more than 100,000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. The questionnaire asked respondents about mental health symptoms, such as having aggression, feelings of detachment, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts. Those who were given smartphones at an earlier age were associated with worse mental health outcomes for every year of smartphone ownership before the age of 13. Early smartphone ownership was associated with feelings of lower self-image and lower self-worth in both girls and boys. Girls reported lower emotional resilience and lower confidence, while boys reported feeling less calm, less stable and less empathetic. "The younger the child gets a smartphone, the more exposure to all this impacts them psychologically and shapes the way they think and view the world," Tara Thiagarajan, one of the study's authors, told ABC News in an emailed statement. About 48% of young women who had smartphones by 5 or 6 years old reported having severe suicidal thoughts, compared to 28% of females who had smartphones by 13 or older. In young men, 31% of those who had smartphones by 5 or 6 years old reported having severe suicidal thoughts and 20% of males who had smartphones by 13 or older reported having severe suicidal thoughts. Cellphone bans in schools take center stage amid mental health crisis Study authors attributed the differences between young women's and young men's mental health symptoms to social media usage. Other factors that seemed to impact mental health outcomes were cyberbullying, poor sleep and poor family relationships. The study's authors recommended restricting smartphone and social media access for kids under 13, promoting digital literacy education and corporate accountability. "Ideally, children should not have a smartphone until age 14, and when they do get a smartphone, parents should take the time to discuss with their children how to interact on the Internet and explain the consequences of doing various things," Thiagarajan added. ABC News' Dr. Tara Narula also said on "Good Morning America" Monday that limiting kids' access to social media appears to be a key step in protecting children and their mental health outcomes. "The longer we can push off allowing our kids to be on social media, we are learning, the better," Narula said. "I think lots of families are getting creative … landlines …. flip phones for kids [are] maybe an option so that they can have access to communicating without all the other things that come with smartphones." Social psychologist says kids shouldn't have smartphones before high school The study's findings come amid an effort led by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of "Anxious Generation," to limit kids' smartphone use due to the impact on their mental health. Haidt has proposed setting nationwide "norms" or guidelines, including not giving children a smartphone before high school, no social media before age 16 and establishing schools as phone-free zones. Pediatrician Dr. Natasha Burgert also recommended that parents demonstrate to children how to use smartphones responsibly. "Children watch everything you do -- and that doesn't stop until they leave your house," Burgert told ABC News via email. "Connect authentically and meaningfully for a few minutes every day, and show your children that the humans we live with are more important and worthy of our attention than our phones." The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends families follow the 5 C's of media use, including teaching kids and teens how to be safe online, since content and advertisements may be targeting an older audience. Child - Consider your child and their personality. What media are they drawn to and how do they react to it? Content - Consider the content of the media your child consumes. Encourage them to consider good media sources. Calm - Help your child learn how to manage their emotions, including without the help of media. Crowding out - Consider what your family would like to spend more quality time doing, besides consuming media. Communication - Discuss media with children early and often and encourage learning digital literacy. Solve the daily Crossword
Washington Post
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Is the ‘Gen Z stare' real? We asked the experts: our interns.
Arts & Entertainment Is the 'Gen Z stare' real? We asked our interns. July 21, 2025 | 5:59 PM GMT The emotionless expression teens and young adults sometimes make if someone inconveniences them by saying 'hi,' tries to engage in small talk with them, or tries to take their food order finally has a name: the Gen Z stare. Why the Gen Z stare has every generation talking Related
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How rising living costs are changing the way we date, live and love
If it feels like rising prices are affecting your dating life or friendships, you're not imagining it. Around the world, economic pressures are taking a significant toll on personal relationships. From strained romantic partnerships to postponed life milestones, financial uncertainty is changing the way people connect and relate to with one another. Young adults in their 20s and 30s, in particular, are facing an altered social landscape where even the most fundamental aspects of relationships are being influenced by financial realities. Dating today can feel like a mix of endless swipes, red flags and shifting expectations. From decoding mixed signals to balancing independence with intimacy, relationships in your 20s and 30s come with unique challenges. Love IRL is the latest series from Quarter Life that explores it all. These research-backed articles break down the complexities of modern love to help you build meaningful connections, no matter your relationship status. Financial stress and relationship strain Money has long been one of the biggest sources of conflict in relationships, but today's economic landscape has made financial stress an even greater burden. In Canada, a staggering 77 per cent of couples report financial strain, and 62 per cent say they argue over money. The rising cost of rent, food and everyday expenses has forced many couples to make difficult financial decisions, sometimes at the expense of their relationship. These concerns are not unique to Canadian couples. A study in the United Kingdom found that 38 per cent of people in a relationship admit to having a secret account or 'money stashed away' that their partner doesn't know about. And in the United States, couples surveyed reported having 58 money-related arguments per year. Even more concerning, financial instability is affecting how long relationships last. A recent RBC poll found 55 per cent of Canadians feel they need to be in a relationship to afford their lifestyle. The economic barriers to independence are particularly pronounced for those contemplating separation or divorce. Traditionally, a breakup meant one partner moving out, but now more divorced and separated couples are finding themselves cohabitating simply because they can't afford to live alone. Understanding how to maintain a healthy relationship when facing financial troubles is essential for couples to navigate these difficult times. Postponing major life decisions The cost-of-living crisis is also delaying key life milestones for young adults worldwide. A Statistics Canada survey found that 38 per cent of young adults have postponed moving out due to economic uncertainty, an increase from 32 per cent in 2018. This issue is not only delaying the journey to independent adulthood, it is also reversing it. For example, in the United Kingdom, one in five young adults who moved out have had to move back into their family home due to the cost of living crisis. Housing affordability plays a major role in these delays. With housing prices soaring in Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere, home ownership feels out of reach for many. For instance, 55 per cent of young Canadians report the housing crisis is fuelling their decision to delay starting a family. These delays have cascading effects on individuals and on broader societal trends, including lower fertility rates and shifts toward smaller families. Dating in a cost-conscious era One side effect of the rising cost of living is that couples are moving in together sooner than they might have otherwise in order to split living expenses. Others are adopting a more pragmatic approach to dating and bringing up topics like financial stability, job security and housing much earlier in their relationships. A dating trend known as 'future-proofing' is also spreading. According to Bumble's annual trend report, 95 per cent of singles say their worries about the future are impacting who they date and how they approach relationships. Top concerns include finances, job security, housing and climate change. Read more: At the same time, financial strain is leading to simpler and cheaper date nights. More than half of Canadians say the rising cost of living is affecting dating. Many people are opting for budget-friendly activities like coffee dates, picnics or home-cooked meals instead of expensive dinners or weekend getaways. In the U.K., inflation and other day-to-day expenses have also made 33 per cent of the nation's young singles less likely to go on dates. Around one-quarter of them say it has made them less likely to seek out a romantic partner altogether. These costs are forcing single Americans to adjust their dating plans. With 44 per cent of single Americans reporting adjusting a date for financial reasons, and 27 per cent outright cancelling plans due to financial pressures, it is clear that the cost of living is fundamentally changing how Americans date. Also, with 38 per cent of dating Canadians saying the costs associated with dating have negatively impacted their ability to reach their financial goals, some are even skipping dating altogether. The cost of friendship Friendships, too, are feeling the pinch. Gone are the days of casually grabbing dinner or catching a concert on the weekend. Nearly 40 per cent of Canadians, 42 per cent of Britons and 37 per cent of Americans have cut back on social outings due to financial constraints. While this may seem like a small sacrifice, the decline in social interactions carries serious consequences. Regular social engagement is critical for mental health, resilience and career development. The more social activities are reduced, the greater the risk of loneliness and isolation — two factors that can significantly impact emotional well-being. For many, socializing now means opting for budget-friendly alternatives. However, even with creative adjustments, financial pressures are making it harder to maintain strong social ties. The changing landscape of connection If you're in your 20s or 30s, you've probably felt the way the economic realities of today are reshaping what relationships look like. Rising costs are influencing everything, from who you live with, how you date and when — or if — you take major life steps. Maybe you've moved in with a partner sooner than planned to split rent, swapped nights out for budget-friendly hangs or put off milestones like starting a family. You're not alone. Financial pressures are redefining how we connect with each other. Finding ways to maintain strong relationships under economic stress is essential. Research shows providing emotional support to your partner, employing positive problem-solving skills and engaging in open communication are key maintaining high-quality relationships. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organisation bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Melise Panetta, Wilfrid Laurier University Read more: Love in the age of conspiracy: 5 tips to deal with disinformation and political polarization in relationships How embracing the cringe can help your dating life How to cope with romantic rejection – a psychologist's advice Melise Panetta does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
