Leaving the parental home in post-war Japan: Demographic changes, stem-family norms and the transition to adulthood

Abstract

Leaving home is a key life event in the transition to adulthood, but it has been relatively less explored in demographic studies of contemporary Japan. This paper examines the relationship between home-leaving intensities of young adults and the rapid social, economic, and demographic changes that took place in post-World War II Japan. By using event-history analysis, the study focuses on 1) family and socio-demographic characteristics, 2) stem-family norms, and 3) proximities of life events and leaving home as the main factors affecting the chances of leaving home. This study aims to explain cohort trends and sex differentials in home-leaving behaviors among young adults in post-war Japan.

Keywords

• event history analysis
• Japan
• leaving home
• life course
• living arrangements
• nest-leaving
• stem-family system
• transition to adulthood
• young adults