Examined the construction of parent-adolescent separation from the perspective of late adolescents. Study one included factor analysis of 34 separation-related items by 391 college students. In the second study, 199 college students completed related measures. Results indicate ways in which late adolescents define and achieve separation.(Author/BN)

Surveyed 186 college students to determine their views of the key indicators of having left home. Data suggested that the most important indicator of parent-adolescent separation was establishing more personal control. Economic independence and other modes of home leaving were rated similarly by males and females. (JAC)

Among late adolescent males, parental divorce was highly related to Emotional separation as a home-leaving indicator; for females, being a firstborn was associated with Personal Control as a home-leaving indicator. These findings supported previous research indicating that males experience more adjustment problems after parental divorce than…

An initial attempt to obtain normative data on adolescent home-leaving is represented. Young adults defined home-leaving as personal control, economic independence, residence, physical separation, school affiliation, dissociation, emotional separation, or graduation. The subjective meaning of these definitions is discussed. (Author/GK)