pointing fingers at the next generation
Here’s what the numbers say: people in their twenties are nearly three times more likely to be diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder than those over 65, based on research from the National Institutes of Health. In 2009, 58% more students scored high on a narcissism test compared to 1982. You can see how the focus has shifted.
Many millennials grew up with participation prizes. One study suggests 40% now expect a promotion every two years, even if they don’t stand out at work. Their desire for recognition is clear, and that want for reward seems stronger than before.
Values, Ambition and Living at Home
There’s a love for fame over traditional roles. According to a 2007 survey, three times as many schoolgirls would rather be a famous person’s assistant than an MP. Four times as many would pick that assistant job over leading a top company.
They trust their own feelings to guide them. The National Study of Youth and Religion found that 60% of millennials say their sense of right and wrong depends on what feels right at the moment.
More Young Adults Live With Parents Than Partners in the UK
Across Britain, more people aged 18 to 29 now live with their parents than with a partner. For the first time, sharing a roof with Mum and Dad has become more common than moving in with a spouse or partner.
Why More Are Staying at Home
A mix of high rents, longer studies, and uncertain jobs keeps young people at home. In 2023, Office for National Statistics data showed that 52% of young adults in England and Wales lived with parents. Only 29% lived with a partner or spouse. The old pattern of moving out in your early twenties is rare now.
Life Under One Roof
Living together as adults changes family life. Parents and grown kids learn to share space and bills in new ways. Old routines shift as bedrooms become offices and living rooms turn into gyms. There are more shared meals and small arguments over space. The lines between private time and family time blur.
Money and Independence
Living at home saves money. Young people sidestep rent, council tax, and bills. In London, this can mean saving more than £1,500 a month. Outside the capital, it’s about £700. Yet, saving money slows the push towards independence. It’s harder to learn life skills or set your own habits under your parents’ roof.
How Home Life Feels
Staying home as an adult brings comfort and tension. There’s more support from family but less privacy. Dating and friendships shift, with many feeling awkward inviting friends back. Some people feel they’re falling behind those who’ve moved out. Others enjoy a break from adult bills.
Changing Views on Adulthood
What it means to be grown up has changed. In the past, moving out early meant independence. Today, young people juggle studies, work, and saving money at home. The old story of adulthood no longer fits. Most under 30 now see living at home as normal, not a sign of failure.
Future Trends
Experts expect more young people will stay at home. High house prices, expensive rents, and job insecurity shape this choice. Some parents even welcome multi-generational living as a smart, caring way to get by. As culture shifts, so does the path to independence.
Changing Attitudes to Work and Responsibility
Work habits have shifted too. In 1992, a study by the Families and Work Institute showed 80% of people under 23 wanted more responsibility at work in the future. By 2002, that figure had dropped to 60%.
Are these changes a problem, or just a sign of the times? Think about what’s behind these numbers next time you join the chorus of critics.
