ABSTRACT
In quantitative empirical research, spatial detachment from the family of origin is mostly confined to analysing the first time of leaving home, whereas leaving home can be a process. Therefore, the understanding of this detachment process as a ‘transition’ rather than a single ‘event’ in the course of a person’s life is needed. Four detachment processes can be distinguished for explaining spatial separation from the parents (Vaskovics 2001): moving out can be delayed, which means that young people stay in the parental home for a lengthy period of time. Living with the parents, but being financially independent or vice versa, for example, can be understood as a partial detachment. Commuting between the parents’ household and another place of residence, such as a flat-sharing community or a hall of residence (e.g. as when students reside in another city during the semester) is characterised as a kind of gradual detachment from the family of origin. Spatial detachment can also be reversible. Young people can move out of home, can return and then move out again until they live permanently independent of their parents.
