Our experts also noted that individuals who had experienced parentification— the process in which children take on responsibilities typically associated with adults— and had less financial capacity could have potentially felt more pressured to help and provide for their family. This may be due to the fact that the increased financial strain may contribute to children feeling obligated to sacrifice their own needs for their family. This also aligns with Chua et al.’s (2022) findings, wherein participants emphasized that “to achieve family wellbeing, a family should have savings to rely on during emergencies.”

On the other hand, if children are not given responsibilities or opportunities to develop them, this may contribute to infantilization by their guardians. Infantilization refers to situations in which teenagers or adults are treated as children despite being capable individuals, potentially limiting their sense of autonomy and agency. In doing so, the child’s skills may not fully develop as they are not given opportunities to make decisions or take on responsibilities appropriate for their capabilities. 

Taken together, these findings suggest that financial circumstances may interact with existing family dynamics in shaping a young person’s opportunities for independence. Financial capacity alone does not determine whether a family dynamic is healthy or unhealthy. Rather, families may need to balance financial realities with opportunities for their members to develop practical skills, exercise autonomy, and pursue their own wants and needs.

Although financial stability can provide opportunities and security in certain aspects of life, family relationships remain a careful balancing act between the practical realities of life and the developmental needs of each family member. Members need opportunities to learn responsibilities, make decisions, and understand their own wants and needs while still receiving appropriate support from their families.

Ultimately, we wish to highlight that financial circumstances may be an important factor in understanding family dynamics. The presence or absence of financial stability may shape how family members experience responsibilities, autonomy, and emotional well-being, particularly when considered alongside pre-existing family relationships. Recognizing this relationship can help us better understand how financial circumstances and family dynamics intersect, while avoiding the assumption that financial capacity alone determines the health of a family relationship.