42% of adults rely on their parents for financial support
A recent study indicates that 42% of U.S. adults receive financial support from their parents, a trend spanning across Gen Z, millennials, and Gen X. Experts suggest viewing this intergenerational support as a form of 'scaffolding' rather than a failure of independence.
Why it matters
This highlights shifting economic realities and the evolving nature of family financial dynamics in the modern American economy.
A large portion of U.S. adults are making ends meet with help from their parents.
Forty-two percent of Americans say they rely on the previous generation for financial support, according to Northwestern Mutual's 2026 Planning & Progress Study . That figure includes 72% of Gen Zers, more than half of millennials and one-third of Generation X.
Whether Mom and Dad are funding a cell phone plan or a home down payment, this kind of intergenerational support can inspire powerful feelings, says Megan McCoy, a financial therapist and professor at Kansas State University.
"Language around supporting adult children tends to always have a bad guy, like, 'the kid's not grown up,' or 'the parents are too easy,'" she says. "But I wish people saw it more as a dance between people, and that neither of them is the reason this is going on. It's a pattern that's developed over time."
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in