Child Transition

Few life transitions are so mythologized and misunderstood as the time when children leave home, the postparental period, or the empty nest period. An illness has even been labeled and attributed to this time – empty nest syndrome (Raup & Myers, 1989). So what are the life consequences and reactions to the end of the child raising years and how much does it affect the people who are going through this life transition? Although much of the ideas presented by popular culture about this time may be inaccurate or exaggerated, it is true that the post parental transition can have both positive and negative effects on the individuals and relationships. Effects can be seen in examining marital quality, equity and instability, the physical and psychological …show more content…
That does not mean, however, that it does not deeply affect the parent, sometimes in a maladaptive way. When the effects of this transition cause an overwhelming sense of loss, depression, anxiety, worry and even rejection. This is more likely to be triggered in a mother whose primary role was caregiving and who subjugated their own needs for the benefit of their children (Raup & Myers, 1989). Fortunately this is not a common reaction to children leaving home, and in fact, some of the reactions can be considered overwhelmingly positive. Adaptions to the postparental period by the parent may range from refusal to recognize the child as transitioning to adulthood and potentially capable of leading an autonomous life to an intentional push for individual and marital renewal and growth (Raup & Myers, 1989). This transitional is important to study because of the complex emotions involved for parents individually, as well as the fact that due to greater longevity, many marriages are enduring long after parenting children has ended (Bouchard, …show more content…
While some studies found that there was little effect on the quality of the parent-child relationship after the child leaves home there also seem to be some improvements. Parents report greater satisfaction with their relationships, possibly because of distance or the child growing out of the difficulties that arise in the teen years. Difficulties may arise if at some point the adult child moves back, which is becoming increasingly common due to economic strain and unemployment and marital instability. Other factors such as child dependence or need for protection may be involved (Bouchard, 2014). Although it seems many contemporary parents are accommodating of this arrangement, it can be difficult because roles must be redefined and the parents may experience a sense of loss over what may have been a newfound sense of freedom and other advantages they experienced during the postparental period. Although there is an increased risk for conflict, similar to those shared by adolescents and their parents, the relationship during this boomerang tends to be positive (Bouchard, 2014). It does appear that in the same way that marital satisfaction increased because of the children moving out, there is a decrease when the children move back home. The negative effects of the return of the children to the home are seen more evidently in the father than