Empty nest syndrome is a feeling of grief and loneliness parents may feel when their children move out of the family home, such as to live on their own or to attend a college or university. It is not a clinical condition.[1]
Since young adults moving out from their families' house is generally a normal and healthy event, the symptoms of empty nest syndrome often go unrecognized. This can result in depression and a loss of purpose for parents,[2] since the departure of their children from "the nest" leads to adjustments in parents' lives. Empty nest syndrome is especially common in full-time mothers.
A bird's nest, designed to hold eggs until they hatch
All parents are susceptible to empty nest syndrome, although some factors can create a predisposition to it. Such factors include an unstable or unsatisfactory marriage, a sense of self based primarily on identity as a parent, or difficulty accepting change in general. Full-time parents (stay-at-home mothers or fathers) may be especially vulnerable to empty nest syndrome. Adults who are also dealing with other stressful life events such as the death of a spouse, moving away or retirement are also more likely to experience the syndrome.[1]
Symptoms of empty nest syndrome can include depression, a sense of loss of purpose, feelings of rejection, or worry, stress, and anxiety over the child's welfare. Parents who experience empty nest syndrome often question whether or not they have prepared adequately for their child to live independently.[3]
Many mothers, often the primary caregivers, are more likely than fathers to experience empty nest syndrome.[1] However, research has shown that some fathers expressed feelings that they were unprepared for the emotional transition that comes with their child leaving home. Others have stated feelings of guilt over lost opportunities to be more involved in their children's lives before they left home.[4]
Empty nest parents often face new challenges, such as establishing a new kind of relationship with their children, having to find other ways to occupy their free time, reconnecting with each other, and a lack of sympathy from people who believe that parents should be happy when their children leave home.[1]
Coping
One of the easiest ways for parents to cope with empty nest syndrome is to keep in contact with their children. Technological developments such as cell phones, text messaging, and the internet all allow for increased communication between parents and their children. Parents going through empty nest syndrome can ease their stress by pursuing their own hobbies and interests in their increased spare time. Discussing their grief with each other, friends, families, or professionals may help them. Experts have advised that overwhelmed parents keep a journal, or go back to work if they were full-time parents.[1]
It is important for an empty nester to realize that what they are feeling is normal. It is normal to feel some loss in self when becoming an empty nester. But it is important to replace the meaningful experience of parenting with other meaningful experiences. What can help to find meaningful experiences is to make a list of roles that a person has fulfilled in their life and then seek roles that can be expanded on to add meaning in life.[5]
Recent trends
Since the 2000s, the so-called "Boomerang Generation"—young adults who return to live with their parents—have changed the dynamics of the traditional empty nest phenomenon.[6] Factors such as the high unemployment rate in the United States and constrained job markets have been used to explain the surge in such individuals. Census data from 2008 showed that as many as 20 million 18–34-year-olds (34% of that age group) were living at home with their parents. A decade earlier, only 23% of people in that age group did so.[6]
In popular culture
Comics
Peter de Wit drew Het Lege Nest, a 2011 graphic novel about his personal experience involving empty nest syndrome and psychological advice to overcome these feelings.[7]
Film
Desadanam (English: Journey to wisdom) is a 1996 Indian Malayalam language feature film directed by Jayaraj. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam. It is related with empty nest syndrome, parents feel the sadness during the departure of their only child.
In An Extremely Goofy Movie, Goofy suffers from empty nest syndrome after his son Max departs for college. During his work hours at the toy assembly line, Goofy's sadness results in him being careless and eventually resulting in him inadvertently causing a massive explosion in the factory leading to Goofy getting fired from his job.
In the 2018 computer-animated Pixar short film Bao, an aging and lonely Chinese mother suffers from empty nest syndrome until she gets an unexpected second chance at motherhood when her homemade baozi dumpling comes to life.
TV
Empty Nest, an American sitcom (1988–1995), deals with a situation where the protagonist's wife dies and his two adult daughters move in with him.
In the Netflix show Fuller House, Aunt Becky seems to be suffering from either this, or baby fever, or both, after her twin sons go to college, as she displays an extreme attachment to DJ's baby son Tommy.
References
^ abcde"Empty nest syndrome: Tips for coping". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
^Thapa, Deependra Kaji (2018). "Migration of adult children and mental health of older parents 'left behind': An integrative review". PLOS ONE. 13 (10): e0205665. Bibcode:2018PLoSO..1305665T. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0205665. PMC6197646. PMID 30346972.
^Raup, Jana L.; Myers, Jane E. (1989). "The Empty Nest Syndrome: Myth or Reality?" (PDF). Journal of Counseling & Development. 68 (2): 180–183. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.1989.tb01353.x.
^ abCohen, F.T., DeVault, C., & Strong, B. (2011). The marriage and family experience: Intimate relationships in a changing society (11th ed.). Canada: Linda Schreiber-Ganster.
Empty nest syndrome (2010). Better Health Channel.
March 21, 2023
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Empty nest syndrome is a feeling of grief and loneliness parents may feel when their children move out of the family home such as to live on their own or to attend a college or university It is not a clinical condition 1 Since young adults moving out from their families house is generally a normal and healthy event the symptoms of empty nest syndrome often go unrecognized This can result in depression and a loss of purpose for parents 2 since the departure of their children from the nest leads to adjustments in parents lives Empty nest syndrome is especially common in full time mothers Contents 1 Symptoms and effects 2 Coping 3 Recent trends 4 In popular culture 4 1 Comics 4 2 Film 4 3 TV 5 References 6 Further readingSymptoms and effects Edit A bird s nest designed to hold eggs until they hatch All parents are susceptible to empty nest syndrome although some factors can create a predisposition to it Such factors include an unstable or unsatisfactory marriage a sense of self based primarily on identity as a parent or difficulty accepting change in general Full time parents stay at home mothers or fathers may be especially vulnerable to empty nest syndrome Adults who are also dealing with other stressful life events such as the death of a spouse moving away or retirement are also more likely to experience the syndrome 1 Symptoms of empty nest syndrome can include depression a sense of loss of purpose feelings of rejection or worry stress and anxiety over the child s welfare Parents who experience empty nest syndrome often question whether or not they have prepared adequately for their child to live independently 3 Many mothers often the primary caregivers are more likely than fathers to experience empty nest syndrome 1 However research has shown that some fathers expressed feelings that they were unprepared for the emotional transition that comes with their child leaving home Others have stated feelings of guilt over lost opportunities to be more involved in their children s lives before they left home 4 Empty nest parents often face new challenges such as establishing a new kind of relationship with their children having to find other ways to occupy their free time reconnecting with each other and a lack of sympathy from people who believe that parents should be happy when their children leave home 1 Coping EditOne of the easiest ways for parents to cope with empty nest syndrome is to keep in contact with their children Technological developments such as cell phones text messaging and the internet all allow for increased communication between parents and their children Parents going through empty nest syndrome can ease their stress by pursuing their own hobbies and interests in their increased spare time Discussing their grief with each other friends families or professionals may help them Experts have advised that overwhelmed parents keep a journal or go back to work if they were full time parents 1 It is important for an empty nester to realize that what they are feeling is normal It is normal to feel some loss in self when becoming an empty nester But it is important to replace the meaningful experience of parenting with other meaningful experiences What can help to find meaningful experiences is to make a list of roles that a person has fulfilled in their life and then seek roles that can be expanded on to add meaning in life 5 Recent trends EditSince the 2000s the so called Boomerang Generation young adults who return to live with their parents have changed the dynamics of the traditional empty nest phenomenon 6 Factors such as the high unemployment rate in the United States and constrained job markets have been used to explain the surge in such individuals Census data from 2008 showed that as many as 20 million 18 34 year olds 34 of that age group were living at home with their parents A decade earlier only 23 of people in that age group did so 6 In popular culture EditComics Edit Peter de Wit drew Het Lege Nest a 2011 graphic novel about his personal experience involving empty nest syndrome and psychological advice to overcome these feelings 7 Film Edit Desadanam English Journey to wisdom is a 1996 Indian Malayalam language feature film directed by Jayaraj It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam It is related with empty nest syndrome parents feel the sadness during the departure of their only child In An Extremely Goofy Movie Goofy suffers from empty nest syndrome after his son Max departs for college During his work hours at the toy assembly line Goofy s sadness results in him being careless and eventually resulting in him inadvertently causing a massive explosion in the factory leading to Goofy getting fired from his job In the 2018 computer animated Pixar short film Bao an aging and lonely Chinese mother suffers from empty nest syndrome until she gets an unexpected second chance at motherhood when her homemade baozi dumpling comes to life TV Edit Empty Nest an American sitcom 1988 1995 deals with a situation where the protagonist s wife dies and his two adult daughters move in with him In the Netflix show Fuller House Aunt Becky seems to be suffering from either this or baby fever or both after her twin sons go to college as she displays an extreme attachment to DJ s baby son Tommy References Edit a b c d e Empty nest syndrome Tips for coping Mayo Clinic Retrieved 9 February 2013 Thapa Deependra Kaji 2018 Migration of adult children and mental health of older parents left behind An integrative review PLOS ONE 13 10 e0205665 Bibcode 2018PLoSO 1305665T doi 10 1371 journal pone 0205665 PMC 6197646 PMID 30346972 Raup Jana L Myers Jane E 1989 The Empty Nest Syndrome Myth or Reality PDF Journal of Counseling amp Development 68 2 180 183 doi 10 1002 j 1556 6676 1989 tb01353 x Clay A R 2003 An empty nest can promote freedom improved relationships Monitor on Psychology 34 4 Retrieved from http www apa org monitor apr03 pluses aspx Empty Nest Syndrome SpringerReference Berlin Heidelberg Springer Verlag 2011 doi 10 1007 springerreference 61352 retrieved 2021 07 04 a b Cohen F T DeVault C amp Strong B 2011 The marriage and family experience Intimate relationships in a changing society 11th ed Canada Linda Schreiber Ganster Peter de Wit Further reading EditEmpty nest syndrome 2010 Better Health Channel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Empty nest syndrome amp oldid 1137361794, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
