Talk:Empty nest syndrome

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My mom has the syndrome. This plus a post-menopausia depression has changed her life. It is difficult to me as her daughter to handle the situation sometimes. I'm not sure about what should I do, or what is expected from me to do. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 200.30.230.161 (talk • contribs) 04:11, 20 March 2005

Myth
A quick Google revealed that the Empty Nest Syndrome is considered by some to be a myth. (http://msuinfo.ur.msstate.edu/~dur/nycu/emptynest.htm) Should this be included in the article?
 * Sounds like a good addition to me. violet/riga (t) 19:02, 18 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I tried adding a little section for this, including a reference to this site. However, I'm bad at writing this kind of stuff, so somebody could probably improve on it. Robot Chicken 02:34, 14 April 2007 (UTC)
 * Not just that link but I've come across numerous sources, including while reading a book today called "Conditions of Happiness", that suggest that on average, parents tend to feel slightly *more* happy after their children leave. Though maybe many are happier and enjoy more things, while others struggle somewhat? I don't know but I've read numerous psychologists (positive psychologists) say that this syndrome is a myth at least to some extent. Peoplesunionpro (talk) 21:57, 10 December 2007 (UTC)

Is this syndrome a feeling of going through the motions, but a sense that you are not really here? My last son left home (he got married) and we were very close. It's like my home is not my home and I do not belong here anymore.


 * Not a ‘myth’ but a jocular phrase shared among parents who suddenly find themselves a couple again. It is not, as stated, a mental illness, and ranks alongside contemporary struggles like ‘first world problem’ (plaints about trivial issues) or ‘Old Timer’s Disease’ (absent-mindedness). Life has many points of transition, even a child’s first tooth, first steps, first day at school, leaving diapers behind, leaving school behind, beloved and now forgotten toys...

We are empty-nesters, but we also have lives. Our kids have lives, too. That’s what we raised them for, to be fully functioning human beings. Those who can’t cope with transition are not ‘victims’ of this ‘syndrome’. There is the essence of mythology. Persons who suffer clinical depression when their children leave have personality problems, dependency issues for example, that existed long before.2001:44B8:3102:BB00:1D96:8ED8:D4A0:85CE (talk) 19:43, 28 December 2020 (UTC)

empty nest syndrome
I was wondering who first coined the term "empty nest syndrome." Anybody know? Alicegraves 02:19, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

Article needs major improvement
I'm sure empty nest "syndrome" has a lot more history, analysis, and breadth to it than this Wikipedia article. I encourage people especially medical professionals to come in and contribute. The diction and tone of this article is too vernacular and needs to be edited to flow better. 64.122.208.184 20:40, 12 June 2007 (UTC)

need companion article
Empty nest as a stage in life is MUCH more notable, afaict, than empty nest syndrome. I wonder if it wouldn't make more sense to create such an article, that cover broader issues, and possibly merge this into that? Ricardianman (talk) 21:28, 15 February 2011 (UTC)

The text of this page shows 'mommy bias'
The page needs to be rewritten to unbias the article in favor of mothers. Fathers can get Empty Nest Syndrome too. — Preceding unsigned comment added by MedFritchell (talk • contribs) 11:01, 5 September 2011 (UTC)


 * Agree, this totally has that bias. Not to mention it has the parental bias of all these coping techniques being good for every party (its not certain that it is good for the children who want independence).  Anyways, I'll try to remove that bias and continue some edits I've already done.DaltonCastle (talk) 07:53, 2 August 2012 (UTC)


 * It also implies that the parents suffering loss are the only victims. In fact, a parent may transfer their attention to another family member, causing emotional suffocation. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.109.198.116 (talk) 20:14, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just added archive links to 1 one external link on Empty nest syndrome. Please take a moment to review my edit. If necessary, add after the link to keep me from modifying it. Alternatively, you can add to keep me off the page altogether. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/20141126214409/http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/j.1556-6676.1989.tb01353.x/abstract to http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/j.1556-6676.1989.tb01353.x/abstract

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Cheers.—cyberbot II  Talk to my owner :Online 11:01, 10 January 2016 (UTC)

Western bias
"Since young adults moving out from their families' house is generally a normal and healthy event" - this sentence does not apply to most of the world. Only western parents kick their children out of their family home while they're still teenagers. 109.172.212.122 (talk) 16:38, 30 September 2023 (UTC)