Problem of Empty Nest Syndrome

Summary: The term Empty nest syndrome is used to refer to the grief that many parents experience when their children/offspring move out of home. As per research, women more commonly face this condition compared to men since women are more likely to have had the active role in their primary career.

Source: Journal of Advanced Research in Psychology & Psychotherapy.

The world has turned competitive and the present competition has made career and professional life so important for young people. That there arises a need to leave their home for the aforementioned reasons sometimes home willingly or other times unwillingly.

Empty nest syndrome is a feeling without much definition, an emotion not well known or understood by mental health workers. Unlike the grief that is experienced when for instance a loved one dies or deprivation. The grief of empty nest syndrome for a long time has gone unrecognized and unnoticed. However, the pain is real and should be addressed.

This leaving home is seen to impart a huge effect on the psychology of parents, especially this is seen in the case of the child who is the youngest one. As the youngest child leaves the home empty, therefore imparting the phenomena its name, the ‘Empty nest syndrome’.

Author from India has attempted to analyse the above mentioned problem of empty nest syndrome in terms of both the positive as well as the negative effects. This particular article on empty nest syndrome elaborates the psychological state of parents. Which appears to be quite shattered and isolated followed by pointing out various complexities created by the emptiness caused in their lives which is addressed by this syndrome.

The mental health of the parents. Therefore also becomes an important area of concern besides taking into consideration the adjustment issues of the youngster. Who is moving away from the nest. The parents (irrespective of gender) experience pain. And the addressing of the situation is sometimes similar and the other times different for each gender.