Social support from genuine friendships is invaluable at any age, yet it can be more powerful when young adults first leave home. This period of leaving home is referred to as “emerging adulthood” and includes ages 18-25. But unlike a cake that gets transformed from lumpy, thick liquid into a moist and fluffy dessert in a designated time—reaching a magical milestone in human years does not guarantee that an emerging adult has attained the skills to build social supports (and other life essentials).

Part of the challenge emerging adults face when leaving home is that they are making decisions about their life for the first time after living with parents who set the rules and provided structure.

The other part of the challenge is that parents and emerging adults must forge a new relationship with each other.

Ideally, parents take on the role of a supportive guidance counselor instead of an active coach who calls the shots. Supportive guidance counselor parents are present on the sidelines while providing presence, structure, consistency, positive regard, validation, support, and low conflict.

Low conflict cannot be emphasized enough, as researchers........

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