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This study explores student loans, family support, and reciprocity during the transition out of college into adulthood. We examine experiences of family financial assistance and co-living among college students and graduates with loans, and whether support and reciprocity systematically differed by loan presence. We conducted four waves of qualitative interviews with college graduates with loans at two public universities, in their senior year and annually for three years after graduation ( N=24 participants, 72 interviews), and collected two rounds of survey data with undergraduates ( N=3251) and graduates 15 months after graduation ( N=176) from the same universities. Financial support from and living with family was common. Those with loans gave more money to family, even when they did not live with them. Interviews revealed that reciprocity, or expectations to help family in return for help received, could be burdensome. Findings indicate that receiving help may prolong—but also facilitate—the transition to adulthood.
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Social Norms and Expectations about Student Loans and Family Formation
Social norms and expectations regarding marriage or childbearing while in debt—or with an indebted partner—may explain links between student loans and lower family formation rates. This study analyzes an original survey of college students (N = 2,990) at two universities examining how student loanswill,would,orshouldaffect romantic relationship and family formation decisions. A significant minority believed marriage should be delayed and nearly half believed childbearing should be delayed when people have student loan debt. Many reported they would hesitate to marry someone with high student debt, their loans would delay family formation, and they would form families earlier if their debt were forgiven. Those with loan debt and higher debt were more willing to partner with those who had high student debt. Women were less likely to believe peopleshoulddelay childbearing and marriage because of loans, but more hesitant to marry a partner with high student debt. Findings suggest social norms underlie childbearing and marriage delays among those with loans, and student loan debt creates a class divide among the highly educated.
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- PAR ID:
- 10448219
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Sociological Inquiry
- Volume:
- 92
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 0038-0245
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 90-126
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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