Are You My Anchor or My Storm? Family Relationship Deficits, Depression, and Risk Behaviours in Emerging Young Adults: A Systematic Review

Interpersonal, family and social relationships are indispensable for emerging adults to cope with stressors. Such connections serve as the source of social support and buffer against common mental health disorders such as depression. This article presents a comprehensive descriptive review of existing studies and identifies unique themes using a systematic approach. The research focuses on how deficits in family relationships contribute to depression among emerging adults transitioning to college. The review was guided by a framed research question: what effects do deficits in family relationships have on the mental health of college-aged young adults? Searches were conducted across the APA PsycINFO, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. The research highlighted the dual role of family relationships as either sources of social support or sources of distress. Emerging adults seek support that is empathetic, relationally secure, emotionally supportive and reliable to meet their individual needs. Uncertain relational changes, such as family conflict during the transitional stage of emerging adulthood, can be challenging for those who are launching out from their families. Family environments and relationships are the significant risk factors for common mental health conditions. Early identification and timely interventions are critical components in prevention efforts.