How old were you when you left home?

GREEK males are the most reluctant young adults of all to leave home - and their mamma’s cooking.

Results of a new Australian Institute of Family Studies study show family background and gender are key factors in determining when young people leave home.

The study of 146,000 young people shows just over 40 per cent of those in their late 20s from Greek, Chinese and Italian backgrounds have left home.

This compares with more than 60 per cent of those from Australian, British and Irish backgrounds.

Researcher Dr Lixia Qu said Greek men and then Greek women tend to stay at home longer, followed by Chinese adults and Italians.

“In these three countries there is more emphasis on the collective benefit of the family and family obligation,” she said.

The study, presented to the Australian Institute of Family Studies conference this week, is based on longitudinal data from the 2006 and 2011 Census, and is the first time such statistics have been available.

The results also show there is a stark gender gap in the age people are leaving home. Sixty per cent of women in their 20s have left home, compared with 45 per cent of young men.

Similarly, one in five young men - compared with one in 10 young women - are still at home in their late 20s.

“Men always stay at home longer, leave later and are more likely to come back home again,” Dr Qu said.

“Women seem to be more prepared to live out of home and form relationships earlier.”

Some young adults treat their family home as a revolving residence, with 5 per cent of males and 3.6 per cent of females leaving in their early 20s and coming back home by their late 20s.

Other factors that affect the rate people leave home include the type of family they live in and whether they live in the country or the city.

Both males and females from major cities are more likely to stay home longer, along with people from intact families.