Crisis means Italians continue to live with parents longer

The economic crisis in Italy is strengthening family ties and the long-standing tradition of adults who choose to live at home with their parents after their 20s, says a report published by Italian farmers' association Coldiretti and socio-economic research group Censis. The study "Crisis: Live Together, Live Better," reports that 31% of all Italians live with their mothers and 42.3% live no further than 30 minutes away. More than half of Italians (54%) choose to live no further than a half-hour walk from close relatives. For the 18-to-29-year-old age group, 60.7% of Italians live with their mothers and 26.4% live less than 30 minutes away, while 30-to-45-year olds count 25.3% cohabiting and 42.5% living nearby. The numbers drop for adults between 45 and 64 to 11.8% cohabiting, but 58.5% still live within 30 minutes of their parents. "The Italian family structure in general is positive in the face of the difficulties faced by many during the crisis," President of Coldiretti Sergio Marini said in the report.