WeeklySA_AdminTRANSITION: A new study finds that young adults with highly involved parents may struggle to gain early professional prestige — suggesting that too much guidance can slow independence…
By Matt Shipman
A recent study of more than 2 000 early-career adults found that young people whose parents were still very closely involved in their lives tended to have occupations with less “prestige” than young people whose parents were less involved.
“It is well-established that parental investment during their children’s childhood and adolescence has positive outcomes,” says Anna Manzoni, co-author of a paper on the work and a professor of sociology at North Carolina State University.
“However, our study points to a shift in parental role as young people mature into early adulthood – ages 18-28.
“Specifically, our findings suggest that parents who are heavily involved with their children – spending lots of time advising them, sharing many activities, etc. – actually hinder the child’s ability to launch.”
Two key concepts in the study are “family social capital” and “occupational prestige.” Family social capital refers to the norms, information and support parents provide through everyday interactions with their children. Occupational prestige is measured by assessing the average education and income for a given occupation.
“We know that parents play an important role in shaping their children’s occupational outcomes, but we wanted to study specifically the effects of family social capital on early occupational attainment of young adults,” says Tom Leppard, co-author of the paper and a postdoctoral researcher in NC State’s Data Science and AI Academy.
For the study, the researchers analysed data from the nationally representative Transition to Adulthood Supplement survey from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The survey asked US adults between the ages of 18-28 a range of questions every other year for up to 10 years. Because some participants aged into or out of the study, the researchers ultimately had access to data from 7 899 surveys given to 2,680 individuals.
“The key finding was that low levels of family social capital positively influence adolescent occupational prestige while strongly tied family social capital negatively influences it,” says Leppard. “In other words, too much parental involvement was associated with a negative impact on the occupational attainment of emerging adults.
“This absolutely took us by surprise,” says Manzoni. “We checked our measures time and time again to make sure the results were correct. There is so much scholarship demonstrating how family social capital positively impacts everything from school performance to healthy behaviours, our findings at first seemed contradictory.
“But what the findings suggest is that, during the transition to adulthood, there can be too much of a good thing. This is an age in which young people need to make the transition to independence. And failure to do so is associated with professional constraints early in their careers.”
So, what’s the takeaway message for parents?
“As young people move into early adulthood, the parental role may need to shift away from intensive guidance and toward a more hands-off, supportive posture that allows children to develop autonomy, make mistakes, and navigate the labor market on their own,” Manzoni says. The study also raises several new questions for researchers.
“For example,” asks Leppard, “why do some parents remain highly involved during early adulthood while others step back? Are these patterns shaped by class, race, gender or family expectations about independence?
Additionally, do the negative effects of strong family social capital persist over time, or do they fade as careers mature? It is also possible that strong family ties may pay off later in adulthood, even if they slow early occupational attainment”. – Newswise
LIFESTYLE Briefs
Rand Show Powers Up
The Rand Show 2026 is set to plug visitors into the future with the launch of a dynamic Tech and Gaming Arena, promising an electrifying mix of gaming, innovation and pop-culture experiences at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec, from 2–6 April 2 to 6.
Designed for gamers, tech enthusiasts and families alike, the interactive zone will transform spectators into participants through a range of hands-on experiences. Powered by New Age Gaming (NAG), the arena will feature robotics demonstrations, a live hackathon where teams tackle real-world challenges, and a massive LEGO experience where visitors can build and contribute to an education-inspired bridge while collecting their own LEGO Minifigure.
Competitive gaming fans can dive into a high-energy LAN arena offering free-play gaming stations, competitions and prizes, alongside a PlayStation 5 football challenge. Township esports talent will also take centre stage through Kasi Flare, powered by Mettlestate, showcasing rising gamers from local communities.
The experience goes beyond gaming with virtual and augmented reality installations, 3D-printing demonstrations and a racing simulator that lets visitors test their driving skills on the iconic Kyalami circuit.
Anime lovers are equally catered for through Anime After Hours, bringing cosplay, J-Pop and K-Pop performances, gaming challenges and a marketplace filled with collectibles and merchandise.
Organisers say the new arena aims to inspire creativity, digital skills and future innovation while delivering one of the most exciting attractions at this year’s Rand Show.
FemmeFit Fest Gets Women Outdoors
Hundreds of women are expected to swap gym walls for the outdoors when FemmeFit Fest returns to Syringa Park at Avianto Estate on March 28, bringing together fitness enthusiasts for a morning dedicated to health, movement and community.
Hosted by sports nutrition brand Nutritional Performance Labs (NPL), the event offers an energising alternative to traditional gym workouts, encouraging women of all fitness levels to participate in a supportive and uplifting environment.
The programme will feature four guided fitness sessions, led by professional instructors and set to lively music, designed to inspire participants to challenge themselves while enjoying the camaraderie of group training.
Each ticket includes a goodie bag valued at over R1 000, filled with health, beauty and training products, while spot prizes throughout the morning promise additional excitement for attendees.
According to Cherrie Blackmore, Head of Marketing at NPL, the event reflects a growing shift among women who are taking a proactive approach to their wellbeing.
“Women are no longer waiting for the right moment to prioritise their health. They are making the decision and acting on it,” she said.
Set among the natural surroundings of one of Gauteng’s most scenic venues, FemmeFit Fest aims to combine fitness, fun and inspiration in a single morning of outdoor activity.
Check-in: 07:45. Starts: 09:30. Tickets are limited.
Joburg Hosts Chocolate Easter Feast
Chocolate lovers in Johannesburg will have a rare opportunity to experience the ingredient in both sweet and savoury form when cookery school owner Jan Kohler and renowned food writer Hilary Biller host a special Easter-themed culinary evening on March 12.
The event, titled A Chocolate Easter Feast, will take place at Jan Kohler’s Cooking School in Dunkeld and promises an indulgent exploration of chocolate’s versatility beyond traditional desserts.
Biller, former food editor of the Sunday Times, and Kohler – both respected cookbook authors – will guide guests through a menu that blends rich flavours with creative cooking techniques. The demonstration begins with savoury dishes that showcase dark chocolate’s depth, including a chilli con carne soup enriched with dark chocolate, lamb shanks served with a dark chocolate chilli sauce and savoury rice, and a traditional Mexican chicken mole.
The sweet course features an array of decadent desserts, highlighted by Yotam Ottolenghi’s celebrated “World’s Best Chocolate Cake,” a chocolate raspberry tart, and a velvety chocolate Basque cheesecake. The evening concludes with a twist on the classic Italian affogato, pairing espresso with a chocolate truffle.
Chocolate used during the demonstration will come from Chocolates Valor, the Spanish premium chocolate brand founded in 1881.
Guests will receive full recipes and enjoy the dishes after the demonstration. The relaxed evening runs from 6pm to 9pm, and attendees are encouraged to bring their favourite bottle of wine. Tickets cost R650 per person.
Bookings can be made via janetkohler@me.com
