Young People’s Perspectives on Giving and Receiving Love from their Parents: A Qualitative Exploration During the Transition into Emerging Adulthood

Abstract This study explored the relationships between young people and their parents during the important transition from late adolescence into emerging adulthood. The study involved a qualitative examination of young people’s viewpoints on parental actions indicative of love and acceptance, alongside the actions they themselves undertake to express love toward their parents. The study involved Australian young people ( n = 188) aged 17–19 years recruited from a major metropolitan university. Using an exploratory qualitative research approach, we employed thematic framework analysis to identify commonalities and distinctions in young people’s perceptions of parental love and acceptance, and their expressions of love towards parents. An integrated model was developed through collaborative mind mapping. Core themes included connectedness, involvement, support, acceptance, autonomy, and mutuality. Although there were shared behaviors between parents and youth in expressing love, unique sub-themes emerged for each domain. The findings highlighted the increasing reciprocity in parent-child relationships and added to understanding of the dynamics in this relationship during the transition to emerging adulthood. Such work that identifies specific behaviors used by family members to support and maintain positive relationships can inform advice given to families about how to improve family relationships and best support young people to move successfully into adulthood.