Features of experiencing the "empty nest" crisis by married and unmarried women

Abstract

The presented article discusses the specifics of experiencing the "empty nest" crisis by married and unmarried women. The authors discuss significant social factors that potentially affect a woman's experience of the "empty nest" crisis and suggest that the special social role of an unmarried woman raising children causes her to have specific attitudes and experiences. The materials of the article allow us to identify the characteristics of the structure of psychological well-being, attitudes towards oneself and one's child, accompanying the psychological picture of the experiences of married and unmarried women. The study uses the method of "Psychological well-being Scale" by K. Riff, a modified version of the MOBiS method (M.V. Buchatskaya), the method of "Semantic differential" by C. Osgood. The results of the empirical study are based on diagnostic data from a sample of 60 women and including two empirical groups, depending on marital status. The obtained results reveal the socio-psychological features of experiencing the crisis of the "empty nest" in each group. In particular, it is indicated that married women experience a greater degree of dependence on the relationship with their child and the loss of intimacy with them. Unmarried mothers have a tendency to link psychological well-being with their work, therefore, orientation to professional activity can act as a compensating factor of experiences in this case. The study allows us to substantiate the conditions for improving the quality of psychological support for women and outline the prospects for its development.