Seeking Self-Sufficiency

Abstract

Research about the nature of emerging adult college student problem situations identifies parents as a means of decision–making and/or social support. One salient type of social support is parental advice messages. This qualitative study investigates why emerging adult college students receive advice from their parents, their perceptions of that advice, and why they implement it. To explore these phenomena, electronic survey data were collected and analyzed using inductive emergent thematic analysis. Findings conclude that emerging adult college students receive solicited and unsolicited advice from their parents about academic and career concerns but receive more advice about work–life balance, social/relationship concerns, and finances. Further, participants implemented their parents’ advice because of the utility or practicality of the advice, the legitimate authority or experiential wisdom of the parent, and perceived autonomy support. Practical and scholarly implications for advice-giving communication between parents and their emerging adult college student children are discussed.