Sponsored by the Australian Psychological Society. Times given are for Melbourne - the Pacific time is 4:30 pm July 14.

This 3-webinar series addresses an increasingly reported phenomenon that appears to be prevalent in most developed countries: Young adults struggling with independence and responsibility whose development toward self-reliance stalls or regresses - usually in the early 20s, though signs of the problem are typically evident earlier. These young adults typically rely on family for financial support, housing, and assistance with even the most basic activities of daily living (shopping, housecleaning, transportation, meal preparation, housing). More often male (estimates vary but suggest approximately 75-25 ratio), they typically lead isolated lives, seldom leave home, are underemployed or severely underemployed, have few friends or romantic contacts, and spend most of their time online, sequestered in their room. Parents find that they are offering the level of care they would normally give to a much younger child, and usually report little to no progress toward independence. In some instances a previously-attained level of self-reliance (e.g. attendance at a distant post-secondary institution) has been lost and the individual has regressed inward.

SESSION ONE: This webinar will cover orientation to the emerging problem of failure-to-launch amongst young adults (with discussion of related concepts including hikikomori, NEET, Generation Ni-Ni, N-Po, lying flat) in developed countries. Identification of apparent risk factors (including cost of living, rise of the internet, gaming, mental health concerns, the online promotion of myths about adulthood, and shifting family dynamics) will be discussed.