1st Edition

House Sharing and Young Adults Examining successful dynamics and negative stereotypes

By Vicky Clark, Keith Tuffin Copyright 2023
    150 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    150 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    House Sharing and Young Adults offers unique insight into the dynamics of successful house sharing among young adults and questions some of the myths fostered by the negative stereotyping of housemates. Illustrated with research from interviews with young adults, it explores co-residence, interpersonal relationships and young people’s development. 

    Beginning with an overview of the concept and history of house sharing among young adults, Clark and Tuffin’s volume also examines the reasons for the lack of research into the area up until recently. It explores key questions, including how young adults choose housemates, what makes a desirable housemate, avoiding complications, the psychological advantages of house sharing, how conflict arises, and the impact of house sharing on adult development. The authors challenge the stigma of shared domesticity, demonstrating the potential of house sharing to enhance well-being through companionship while acknowledging the potential pitfalls caused by tension in intimate settings. 

    House Sharing and Young Adults will be essential reading for both undergraduate and postgraduate students of social psychology, developmental psychology, sociology and anthropology, as well as those interested in group dynamics, housing demographics and discrimination.

    1. Introduction

    2. Why young adults are flatting well beyond student years?

    3. Choosing flatmates

    4. Desirable flatmates

    5. Benefits and challenges of sharing

    6. Conflict

    7. The social dynamics of sharing

    8. Conclusion

    Biography

    Vicky Clark is a PhD graduate in psychology from Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand. 

    Keith Tuffin is an associate professor in the School of Psychology at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand.