Acknowledging Empty Nest Syndrome: Easternand Western Perspective

Abstract

Dorothy Canfield coined “Empty Nest” terminology in her book (Mothers and Children, 1914). Empty Nest is the phase that begins along with the contraction stage of the family life cycle in which children move out of their parental home to relocate either to a different city or country for educational and professional purposes. There are two sides to Empty Nest: some parents grow as individuals and as a couple after the contraction phase, while others struggle to adjust during this time. Therefore, when parents struggle to adjust to the contraction phase, they experience Empty Nest Syndrome. There is a stew of studies explaining the psychological and physical symptoms that predict the manifestation of Empty Nest Syndrome among parents. All the studies are from various parts of the world, with different perspectives and approaches to parenting and the Empty Nest Phase. Despite differences, the world has followed the same family pattern for generations. Hence, the objective of the present piece of paper is to analyse the extensive review of literature about different perspectives on Empty Nest Syndrome for a better understanding of the Empty Nest phase in the eastern and western world.