Have you ever heard about the concept of "failure to launch" and wondered what it means?
In the realm of adult psychology, the term "failure to launch" refers to the phenomenon where young adults struggle to transition into independent and self-sufficient living. You may have learned of other names for failure to launch, such as Hikikomori, delayed adulthood, prolonged adolescence, boomerang generation, Peter Pan syndrome, non-emerging adulthood, extended adolescence, or helicopter parenting aftermath. All terms point to similar set of conditions.
In failure to launch physically and mentally abled adults do not work, do not attend school, and live with - and at the expense of – their burdened parents. failure to launch outcomes are severe, as these Individuals show symptoms of depression and may be at risk of committing suicide. Time spent as failure to launch is detrimental to future independence and occupationally scarring. The burden of FTL is also experienced by family members who have been financially and emotionally supporting the individual with failure to launch (predominantly aging parents).
Research consistently shows that addressing Failure to Launch is most effective when approached as a family team effort. In particular, Dr. Berger's research highlights the critical role of parental involvement in facilitating their adult children's transition into independence. By working closely with parents and equipping them with the right tools and strategies, families can create an environment that encourages growth and autonomy. Dr. Berger's findings indicate that empowering parents to shift from enabling or rescuing behaviors to fostering responsibility and self-sufficiency can significantly improve outcomes. This family-centered approach underscores the importance of collaboration, communication, and consistent support, ultimately enabling young adults to overcome the barriers preventing them from launching into independent adulthood.
To learn more about addressing a failure to launch using a leading treatment method called SPACE, which includes parental guidance, please refer to the academic papers published by Dr. Berger.
*For a full version of the papers, email Dr. Berger at uberger@montefiore.org and request a full version.
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