Empty nest syndrome is a feeling of

grief Grief is the response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or some living thing that has died, to which a bond or affection was formed. Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, grief also has physical, cogni ...

and

loneliness Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation. Loneliness is also described as social paina psychological mechanism which motivates individuals to seek social connections. It is often associated with a perceived lack ...

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. 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, 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.

Symptoms and effects

Cygnus olor, nests with eggs, Höckerschwan mit Nest

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. 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. Many mothers, often the primary caregivers, are more likely than fathers to experience empty nest syndrome. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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.Cohen, F.T., DeVault, C., & Strong, B. (2011). ''The marriage and family experience: Intimate relationships in a changing society'' (11th ed.). Canada: Linda Schreiber-Ganster. Factors such as the high

unemployment rate in the United States Unemployment, according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), is people above a specified age (usually 15) not being in paid employment or self-employment but currently available for work during the refere ...

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.

In popular culture

Comics

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drew ''Het Lege Nest'', a 2011 graphic novel about his personal experience involving empty nest syndrome and psychological advice to overcome these feelings.

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 Goofy is a cartoon character created by The Walt Disney Company. He is a tall, Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic dog who typically wears a turtle neck and vest, with pants, shoes, white gloves, and a tall hat originally designed as a rumpled f ...

suffers from empty nest syndrome after his son

Max Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (English Springer Spaniel), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of OBE) * Max (gorilla) ...

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 Baozi (), Pao-tsih or bao, is a type of yeast-leavened filled bun in various Chinese cuisines. There are many variations in fillings (meat or vegetarian) and preparations, though the buns are most often steamed. They are a variation of '' man ...

'', 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 Baby fever is a strong sudden desire for someone to have their own child. This applies to many cultures and may differ depending on the person. This is not applicable to anyone, but is more common for women. Theories Byproduct view This the ...

, or both, after her twin sons go to college, as she displays an extreme attachment to DJ's baby son Tommy.