Abstract
Adults who do not work, pursue higher education, or live independently from their parents despite the absence of a diagnosed physical, neurodevelopmental, or intellectual disability are often referred to as having ‘failure to launch’ (FTL). This preliminary randomized controlled trial evaluated a new parent-based intervention for FTL: Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions for FTL (SPACE-FTL). Parents of adults with FTL were assigned to SPACE-FTL or a waitlist. Primary outcomes included feasibility, acceptability, treatment satisfaction, and the change in FTL status and symptoms. Secondary and exploratory assessments included parental burden, family accommodation, cost-of-illness, and the adult child’s anxiety and depression symptom severity. Trial completers’ satisfaction score was 28 (87.5% of the maximal score). Post-treatment, FTL was absent in 60% of cases; no change was noted in the waitlist. Symptom severity, parental burden, and family accommodation were significantly reduced. The study provides preliminary evidence that SPACE-FTL can address FTL.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 807-819 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Emerging Adulthood |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2024 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2024 Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood and SAGE Publishing.
Keywords
- accordion family
- anxiety
- boomerang kids
- depression
- failure to launch
- family accommodation
- hikikomori
- parental burden
- parenting
- young adult