Abstract

Leaving the parental home is considered one of the events in individuals’ life course demarcating the transition to adulthood as it represents the attainment of social independence. Individual dimensions, such as gender and family background, and structural constraints that characterize the geographical area of origin are among the explanatory factors for the rise of different home-leaving age patterns. Within this stream of study, this contribution aims to assess whether the geographical origin impacts individuals’ transition to adulthood in Italy, namely in parental home-leaving age. In particular, the study considers the distinction operated by the National Strategy for Inner Areas (NSIA), built on service provision criteria (in health, education, and mobility), to distinguish between central and inner areas. The more traditional South-North division is also considered to ascertain its role in anticipating any discernible outcome regarding parental home-leaving age patterns. Based on Istat’s 1998 «Multipurpose survey on households: Families and Social Subjects« data, the study employs event-history analysis methods to provide home-leaving median ages through Kaplan-Meier estimates and to fit duration models that control for individual, family-related, and spatial characteristics, while adopting a historical perspective. Our analysis reveals a complex relationship between geographical area, timing, and the motivations for leaving the parental home, highlighting significant gender differences. Men in inner areas leave home quickly for work-related reasons, but they delay the event when marriage is the motivating factor. Conversely, for women, the exit is faster in inner areas, whether for work or entering a marital union.