589.6
Transitions in Regional Context: Structural and Cultural Difference and the Influence of Family Ties
Ariane Bertogg (bertogg@soziologie.uzh.ch)
Rather than a state, Switzerland can be viewed as a number of diverse regions with different languages serving as natural borders. Cultural and economic exchange with the respective neighbouring countries has contributed to intensify that diversity. Due to low poverty and a stable economy, youth unemployment rates are relatively low in comparison with other european countries. Nevertheless, parental resources shape the career opportunities of young adults and thus their integration into society. With the rising importance of tertiary education, adolescents remain dependent from their parents for a longer time before the manage to establish independence.
Using data of the Swiss survey TREE ("Transitions from Education to Employment") this paper analyses young adults´ transitions in their specific regional context, focusing on coresidence respectively residential independence. The research is guided by following questions: Are there different nest-leaving patterns in different regions? How can one explain these differences with cultural and structural features of the regions? Are there similarities with the neighbouring countries? And last but not least: What role does the family play in these decisions?
Several studies suggest that there is a strong link between family cohesion and parent-child-ties and a successful accomplishment of the major transitions during adolescence and young adulthood, respectively the timing of their occurrence. Therefore an interplay of parent-child closeness and young adults' moving-out-behaviour can be assumed, which will also be considered in the analysis.
The analysis of the situation of 26-year-old young adults shows remarkable contrasts between the regions as well as gender gaps (with women leaving earlier than men) and reveals a broad influence of cultural (e.g. religion) and structural (e.g. employment insecurity) factors as well as familial influence.