Are you 25 but still live with your parents and carry home cooked food to office?

Don't worry. Contrary to common belief, you'll be able to exhibit greater independence later in your personal life than those who start living separately from their parents or other family members from an early age.

A team of international researchers has carried out a study and found that parent-child relationship is connected to the ability of a young adult to fulfill expectations of the society in terms of settling down and establishing an intimate link, the ScienceDaily reported.

"The research found that following adolescence, the familial connection is an important factor in forming one's identity and living an independent life. It seems that not only can independence and closeness exist together, but they actually flourish together," lead researcher Dr Irit Yanir of the University of Haifa was quoted as saying.

In fact, Dr Yanir and his fellow researchers came to the conclusion after conducting in-depth interviews with psychologists, parents and young adults between the ages of 23-27.

An additional 100 families -- father, mother and child -- completed 300 surveys as part of the study.