Parental Controlling Parenting Style and Its Effects on Young Adults’ Psychological Autonomy in Co-residing Households

Abstract

As prolonged co-residence between parents and young adults becomes increasingly common in urban societies, questions arise regarding how this living arrangement influences the psychological development of emerging adults. This study examines the effects of controlling parenting styles—particularly psychological control—on young adults' psychological autonomy within co-residing households. Drawing on developmental theory and cultural perspectives, the paper explores three core components of autonomy: self-directed decision making, emotional separation from parental authority, and the initiation of personal goals. Through a thematic analysis of common tension points, including daily routines, financial planning, and social relationships, the study reveals how young adults experience, negotiate, and adapt to control in intergenerational domestic settings. It further outlines a range of adaptive strategies employed by young adults to assert autonomy, from selective compliance to future-oriented withdrawal. The findings underscore the long-term developmental and relational consequences of sustained parental control during early adulthood and call for a recalibration of familial roles to support autonomy within shared living arrangements.