Shared Housing and Young Adults: Examining Successful Dynamics and Negative Stereotypes

House Sharing and Young Adults offers unique insight into the dynamics of successful house sharing among young adults and questions some of the myths fostered by the negative stereotyping of housemates. Illustrated with research from interviews with young adults, it explores co-residence, interpersonal relationships and young people’s development.

Beginning with an overview of the concept and history of house sharing among young adults, Clark and Tuffin’s volume also examines the reasons for the lack of research into the area up until recently. It explores key questions, including how young adults choose housemates, what makes a desirable housemate, avoiding complications, the psychological advantages of house sharing, how conflict arises, and the impact of house sharing on adult development. The authors challenge the stigma of shared domesticity, demonstrating the potential of house sharing to enhance well-being through companionship while acknowledging the potential pitfalls caused by tension in intimate settings.

House Sharing and Young Adults will be essential reading for both undergraduate and postgraduate students of social psychology, developmental psychology, sociology and anthropology, as well as those interested in group dynamics, housing demographics and discrimination.

Vicky Clark is a PhD graduate in psychology from Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand.

Keith Tuffin is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand.