The family is the most influential influence on a young adult from childhood to young adulthood. Friends play a substantial part, but the family’s influence is stronger. I agree that the family plays a far greater role in an adolescent’s life, and is the most influential element in shaping a young adult’s perspective on life.

The family is the most influential influence on a young adult. While friends do provide emotional support and companionship, the family is the cornerstone from which all other aspects of life are built. In today’s society, young adults spend most of their time away from home, and for all intents and purposes, are on their own. This places a great responsibility on each and every member of the family. Each family member is expected to contribute to the household’s financial well-being, and to contribute his or her time, effort, and talents to the household. The family must therefore be a stable unit, where each member feels a sense of self-worth and belonging. It is this sense of belonging that helps the family remain together in the face of economic pressures, such as unemployment or divorce, or in the face of the failures of other members, such as substance abuse, crime, or mental illness.

Whenever young adults spend a significant amount of time away from their family, they experience the isolation that can accompany extended periods of solitude. This isolation can lead to depression, anxiety, and suicide. While young adults may be able to turn to friends in times of need, they are more able to rely on their families for support in times of crisis. A family provides a sense of security, and the knowledge that help is available if one feels trapped. The importance of family is further emphasized by the fact that in the vast majority of cases, extended families are intact and continue to provide emotional support throughout the young adult’s life. Whereas friends come and go, families remain constant throughout adulthood, providing constant ties and relationships that extend beyond adulthood.

In addition to providing emotional support, families also provide young adults with a platform to explore a variety of interests. By being surrounded by family members with a wide variety of backgrounds and interests, a young adult is immersed in a consistently stimulating environment. From sports to art, from politics to religion, from opera to science, young adults are exposed to a variety of topics, and are provided opportunities to develop skills that will contribute to their future success. This exposure to a wide variety of interests, and to a variety of people, is extremely valuable for the young adult, for it helps him or her to develop a sense of self-worth. Furthermore, when a family is united, each member feels that he or she is important to the family and to the goals of the family. As a result, each member is more likely to feel a sense of loyalty to the family, and to feel a desire to contribute to the family’s well-being.

The family is the most influential influence on a young adult. While friends provide support, companionship, and opportunities to explore interests, the family provides emotional support and a sense of belonging that is much more difficult to find elsewhere. Moreover, the family provides young adults with a foundation for an adult life, and with opportunities to explore and develop skills needed for a successful adult life. For these reasons, the family is the most important influence on a young adult’s life.