The empty nest transition

Question

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The empty nest transition developed in the 20th century as people began to live longer and have fewer children. This transition occurs when the children leave the family home to attend college or start their own families. It is not necessarily associated with high divorce rates or decreased marital satisfaction, although it may be a challenging time for some couples who need to adjust to a new stage in their lives. A study published in the Journal of Family Issues found that most couples experienced increased marital satisfaction after their children left home. There may be some evidence to suggest that the empty nest transition is associated with less equitable role divisions in marriage, as traditional gender roles may become more entrenched after the children leave home. However, this is not a consistent finding.

The Empty Nest Transition