The family (la famiglia) is the most important aspect of an Italian's life. It provides emotional and economic support to the individual and often forms the basis of their social circles.
Italian family life can be characterized by loyalty and closeness. From the immediate, nuclear family to more extended relatives, Italians tend to remain as a close unit through several generations.
In Italy families are traditionally very close, and Italian parents are famous for doting on their children at any age. This may help to explain why young Italians are more likely to live with their parents than youngsters in other countries with high youth unemployment, such as Poland and Hungary for example.
Average Household Size in Italy
Italy had an average household size of 2.28 people in 2021. The indicator recorded a year-on-year decline of 0.4% in 2021. Between 2010 and 2021, the indicator decreased by 3.4%.
Children Must Be Obedient
Italian families dote on children with a special kind of adoration, however those children are expected to be obedient and loyal. This stems from rural family traditions of performing chores even at a young age, something that is felt to build character.
This is why, in general, Italians spend so much time with their family: the family represents a refuge, a secure place to live, and a source of support. The role of the family is central in Italian culture, and is one of the most important to Italian society.
The family (la famiglia) is the most important aspect of an Italian's life. It provides emotional and economic support to the individual and often forms the basis of their social circles. Italian families on average have become smaller in size over the past few decades as the fertility rate has declined.
"Italian parents are seen as more demanding in rules and authorizations. They take more punitive actions when rules are broken and are less tolerant of peer socialization. They uphold family regulations and require their adolescents to ask for authorizations until a much later age."
For Italian families, among the most popular daily leisure activities are watching television, listening to the radio, reading newspapers, and going to the cinema; reading books and engaging in sports are less common among the majority of people.
Italians will on average continue living with mum and dad until they reach 30.1 years of age - the fourth highest figure in the EU. Only millennials from Croatia, Malta, and Slovakia wait longer, while Scandinavians leave home the earliest.
Some important values and aspects of Italian lifestyle are family and spending time with them, religion and maintaining Catholic traditions, and the pleasure of eating good meals prepared with love and dedication. Gestures and body language are important in the Italian language to emphasize certain ideas.
The average Italian family today is made up of one or or two children. Surveys and statistics carried out by ISTAT (Italy's National Statistics Institute) show that there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of average members per family.
Role of an Italian father
Traditionally Italian mothers run the household and take care of the children. The father is the breadwinner and spends some of his free time with his male friends in the Piazza.
Italian lifestyle is largely imitated all over the world. It is made up of small and big habits that create a peculiar and sought-after image. Italians value and celebrate all aspects of life, such as spending time with family and friends, eating and drinking well, and enjoying beauty in all its forms.
Still, Italian mothers are a force to be reckoned with. They treat cultural traditions with reverence and show their love with bountiful family meals. They can be fiercely protective of their children, and especially over their sons, who tend to live at home much longer than in other countries.
FIGLIA. Figlia means daughter in Italian. Una figlia is a daughter, while la figlia means the daughter.
The overarching theme in Italian parenting styles is that this country loves kids. Although they raise their children to respect their parents and grandparents, Italians thoroughly welcome childhood. Italians do not worry about their children making a scene or behaving in a way that is, well, childish.
In the culture of Italy, families are generally quite close and they are the focal point for life. Even though daily life is always a rush, Italians always find a way to spend quality time together by eating all around the table. At the dinner table, nobody is in a rush.
Italian food is considered among the best in the world. Italy is famous for the Renaissance and the incredible artists it produced. Italy is famous for its tourism, its art cities and unique scenery. Italy is also known for its language, its opera, its fashion and its luxury brands.
Don't wander around alone: Moving freely around someone else's home is considered rude and inappropriate. Accept something they offer: Leaving a house without having a coffee, a piece of cake, or even just a glass of water might disappoint your host.
Psychology is such a taboo in Italy that the first university courses dedicated to the field were launched only in 1971. According to the European Association of Panic Attacks, 70% of Italians consider psychotherapy completely useless.