Connectedness and Autonomy: How Do Young People Build Family Independence in Spain and Portugal?

Actualidad

Connectedness and Autonomy: How Do Young People Build Family Independence in Spain and Portugal?

By Transición Adultez 0

The transition to adulthood, the period between ages 18 and 29 known as Emerging Adulthood, brings profound changes in the way young people relate to their families. A widespread assumption is that becoming an adult requires breaking away from parental guidance or establishing emotional distance from one’s parents. However, developmental psychology research suggests that the key process during this stage is individuation.

But what exactly is individuation, and how can it be appropriately measured within our cultural context?

What Is Individuation and Why Does It Not Mean Distance?

Individuation refers to the gradual development of autonomy, a coherent sense of identity, and the capacity to make independent decisions while maintaining emotional closeness, trust, and support within parent-child relationships.

Unlike adolescence, when young people often seek to challenge or deidealize their parents as part of establishing their identity, emerging adulthood is characterized by the renegotiation of family relationships on a foundation of greater maturity, mutual respect, and reciprocity.

The ITEA-S Questionnaire: A Scientific Tool for Southern Europe

To assess this process accurately, researchers involved in the Transition to Adulthood in Spain (TAE) Project collaborated in the validation of the Individuation Test for Emerging Adults-Short (ITEA-S) using a sample of 373 Spanish and 351 Portuguese emerging adults.

The findings, published in the journal Emerging Adulthood, confirm that the ITEA-S is a robust, reliable, and valid instrument comprising five key dimensions:

  1. Support Seeking: Turning to parents for advice, guidance, or assistance when facing challenging situations.
  2. Connectedness: Experiencing trust, understanding, and mutual respect within the parent-child relationship.
  3. Self-Reliance: The ability to function independently and make one’s own decisions.
  4. Intrusiveness: Perceptions of parental overcontrol or invasion of privacy.
  5. Fear of Disappointing the Parent: Concerns about failing to meet parental or family expectations.

Key Findings and Their Implications for Well-Being

The analyses revealed that young adults in both Spain and Portugal reported high levels of support seeking, connectedness, and self-reliance. Furthermore, having a parental relationship characterized by open communication and emotional warmth was directly associated with greater life satisfaction.

The study also highlights the importance of incorporating a gender perspective into research on family relationships and emerging adulthood, as gender may shape how family dynamics and individuation processes are experienced.

Díez, M., Matias, M., Levpušček, M., Sánchez-Queija, I., Parra, A., Andrade, C., & Komida, L. (2026). Validation of the Individuation Test for Emerging Adults-Short (ITEA-S) in Spanish and Portuguese Emerging Adults. Emerging Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968261476368

The Transition to Adulthood in Spain (TAE) Project is a collaborative initiative involving researchers from the University of Seville, the University School of Osuna (affiliated with the University of Seville), and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU).

Project PID2024-155825NB-I00 is funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Union.