The second empty nest: The lived experience of older women whose intensive 'grandmotherhood' has ended.

Grandmothers are the major nonparental unpaid source of childcare in Western societies. Intensive caring for grandchildren may pose challenges to some grandmothers, but also offers an opportunity to refill the 'empty nest' often experienced in mid-life. When grandmothers' intensive involvement in their grandchildren's care decreases significantly or ceases altogether, they may experience a recurrence of the empty nest syndrome. This may be particularly powerful in the familial and pro-natalist Israeli society, where caring for children is a central tenet of femininity. Despite the growing numbers of grandmothers whose intensive involvement in caring for their grandchildren has ended, this transition has been overlooked socially and rarely examined empirically. To fill this void, the present study examined the lived experience of these grandmothers and the relevance of the concept of the 'second empty nest' in this context. Within a phenomenological study, in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 Israeli women whose intensive 'grandmotherhood' (childcare occurring at least three times per week, for at least two hours each day, for a minimum of two years) has ended. These interviews were analyzed according to Moustakas' phenomenological analysis. The analysis revealed four themes: the circumstances of the cessation of intensive childcare involvement; difficulties and challenges experienced; positive aspects associated with it; and behavioral and cognitive strategies utilized to cope with the void in grandmothers' lives. The grandmothers' experiences reveal a significant similarity to that reported by mothers undergoing the empty nest syndrome. Hence, we offer the term 'the second empty nest' to represent the phenomenon of grandmothers' cessation of intensive childcare. Alongside the similarities between the two empty nests, the challenges of the second transition seem more intense than those posed by the first. This is due to the different locations of mothers and grandmothers across the lifespan and the intersection between sexism and ageism that underlies Western societies. Possible practices to assist grandmothers undergoing the second empty nest are suggested.

Cognitive flexibility and emotional self-regulation of the elderly with Empty nest syndrome: Benefits of acceptance and commitment therapy.

Background and Aims: Empty nest syndrome (ENS) is a mental condition that affects both parents. When children leave their parents' home, the parents experience such feelings as unhappiness, loss, fear, inability, difficulty in adjusting roles, and changing their relationships. The present study aimed to evaluate the cognitive flexibility and emotional self-regulation of the elderly with ENS: benefits of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental where a pretest-posttest design was used with a control group. The statistical population included all the elderly with the ENS in Tehran in the academic year of 2019-2020. Thirty of them were selected by convenience sampling method and then stochastically placed in two experimental and control groups. Dennis and VanderWal's Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, and Hofmann and Kashdan's Emotional Self-Regulatory Questionnaire for data collection in the pretest and posttest phases. Group-based ACT was implemented on experimental group members in 8 sessions of 90 min, while controls received no intervention. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 25 and analysis of covariance. Results: The results showed a significant difference between the posttest scores of the experimental and control groups so the group-based ACT increased the cognitive flexibility and emotional self-regulation of the experimental group members (p < 0.05). Conclusions: According to our results, therapists and health professionals can use ACT for interventions related to the health of the elderly with ENS, especially to improve cognitive flexibility and emotional self-regulation.

Severity of loneliness, depression and perceived social support in adults in the empty nest stage of the family life cycle and the influence of using digital technology.

PURPOSE: Study aimed to identify association between loneliness, depression and perceived social support in adults living in the empty nest stage of family life cycle and to assess impact of digital technology use on the same. METHODS: In this hospital based cross-sectional study, we recruited 281 adults aged 50 years and above. Assessment of loneliness and depression was done using University of California Los Angeles Loneliness scale and Patient Health Questionnaire. Social support was assessed using Multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Digital technology use was assessed based on their self -reported use of mobile, or computer. RESULTS: Among the participants (age 50-75 years), women accounted for 57.7%. 71% of the adults were staying with the spouse, 85% of the participants reported lowincome status. Mean score (SD) of loneliness was 61.7(10.23). Only 17.8% were classified as having no to mild depression, while 52.7% reported low social support. Loneliness severity correlated significantly with depression severity (σ = 0.59, p = 0.000), and perceived social support (σ = -0.78, p = 0.000). Use of digital technology (72.9%) was associated with significantly lower loneliness score (U=4120.00, p = 0.000, lower depression score (U=5106.00, p = 0.000) and higher perceived social support (U=4366.00, p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Loneliness is present in adults in the empty nest stage of life cycle. Its severity positively correlated with depressive symptoms and negatively with perceived social support. Digital technology users seem to have lower loneliness, lower depression severity and higher social support compared to non-digital technology users.

Does Empty Nest Elderly Experience More Depressive Symptoms than Non-Empty Nest Elderly? Evidence from Longitudinal Aging Study in India.

India experienced a growing burden of elderly population associated with both physical and mental health challenges. Among the mental health problems, dementia, depression, anxiety and sleep disorder are of significant concern. This present study investigates the association between the types of living arrangement and the mental health of elderly in India. Comparison has been done between empty nest and non-empty nest elderlies. Data from first wave of Longitudinal Aging Study in India (2017-18) has been used. It is a nationally representative data which collected data from over 72,000 individuals aged 45 and above and their spouses irrespective of age. We used the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) to measure depression while living arrangement was self-reported by the respondents. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to find significant association of the outcome and independent variables. Among the total elderlies, 11% were from empty nest single households, 20% were from empty nest couple households and others were from the non-empty households. At national level, 30% elderly suffered from depression. It was more among the elderly of empty nest single households (43%), compared to elderly of empty nest couple households (30%) and non-empty nest households (28%). Gender, socio economic status, self-rated health status, financial stability, place of residence plays a crucial role in the experience of depression among the elderlies. Results portray that household structure, especially living arrangement and familial support in old age can be associated with the overall health and wellbeing, more specifically depressive symptoms among the elderly.

Síndrome do ninho vazio: experiências de idosos integrantes da universidade da maturidade do amapá

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar como idosos integrantes do Projeto Universidade da Maturidade do Amapá (UMAP) vivenciam o fenômeno da Síndrome do Ninho Vazio. Material e Método: Trata-se de estudo exploratório e descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa. A coleta de dados ocorreu com sete idosos, com idades entre 63 e 83 anos, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, contemplando uma questão central: conte-me como foi a sua experiência mediante a saída dos filhos de casa? Para análise dos dados adotou-se a análise de conteúdo de Bardin, subsidiada pelo software ATLAS.ti versão 8.0 que por meio de uma matriz de análise originou três categorias temáticas. Resultados: As categorias resultaram de um processo analítico e explicativo da experiência vivenciada pelos idosos e compreenderam três momentos: A vida sendo invadida pela solidão, Beneficiando se da liberdade e Alçando novos voos. Conclusão: Em resposta ao objetivo do estudo, foi possível identificar que a experiência do ninho vazio vivenciada pelos idosos perpassou por diferentes fases, entretanto o convívio na UMAP viabilizou superar a solidão e transformar esta experiência em oportunidade de fortalecimento e crescimento.

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify how elderly members who participate of the Project University of Maturity (UMAP), of the Federal University of Amapá in Brazil, experience the Empty Nest Syndrome phenomenon. Materials and Methods: Qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study, using narratives to understand the story of the participants. Data collection took place with seven elderly people, aged between 63 and 83 years, through semi-structured interviews, an focusing on a central question: How was your experience when your children grew up and left home? For data analysis, Bardin's content analysis was adopted, supported by the software ATLAS. ti version 8.0. To guarantee methodological rigor, the principles of credibility, reliability, confirmability and transferability were respected. Results: The resulting categories emerged from an analytical and explanatory process of the experience lived by the elderly and consisted of three moments: life invaded by loneliness, benefiting from freedom and taking new chances. Conclusion: The study shows that the empty nest experience undergoes different phases. However, the experience at UMAP made it possible to overcome loneliness and transform this experience into an opportunity for strengthening and growth.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar cómo los adultos mayores que participan en el Proyecto Universidad de Madurez de Amapá (UMAP) experimentan el fenómeno del Síndrome del Nido Vacío. Material y Método: Estudio con enfoque cualitativo, exploratorio y descriptivo, que a través de la narrativa buscó comprender el relato de los participantes. La recopilación de datos se llevó a cabo con siete personas mayores, de edades comprendidas entre 63 y 83 años, a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas, contemplando una pregunta central: cuénteme ¿cómo fue su experiencia cuando sus hijos crecieron y se fueron de casa? Se adoptó el análisis de contenido de Bardin, subsidiado por el software ATLAS.ti versión 8.0. Para garantizar el rigor metodológico se cumplieron los principios de credibilidad, confiabilidad, confirmabilidad y transferibilidad. Resultados: Las tres categorías originadas resultaron de un proceso analítico y explicativo de la experiencia vivida por los ancianos y comprendió tres momentos: la vida invadida por la soledad, el beneficio de la libertad y la toma de nuevos vuelos. Conclusión: La experiencia del nido vacío experimentada por las personas mayores pasó por diferentes fases, sin embargo, la experiencia en UMAP permitió superar la soledad y transformar esta experiencia en una oportunidad de fortalecimiento y crecimiento.

Revisitando o conceito de síndrome do ninho vazio: [revisãp] / Revising the empty nest's syndrome concept: [review]

CONTEXTO: A síndrome do ninho vazio é mencionada com frequência na literatura como o período de mudanças na vida do casal após a saída dos filhos de casa. OBJETIVOS: A finalidade deste artigo é rever os conceitos aplicados à síndrome do ninho vazio, verificar sua aplicabilidade nos dias de hoje, bem como suas particularidades em diferentes culturas. MÉTODO: Revisou-se a literatura disponível sobre a síndrome do ninho vazio utilizando as bases de dados MedLine e PsycINFO. RESULTADO: O período da síndrome do ninho vazio acontece junto com diversas mudanças, como a aposentadoria e a menopausa, o que pode agravar sentimentos de depressão e baixa autoestima. Além disso, fatores sociais e culturais influenciam no aparecimento e na intensidade da síndrome. CONCLUSÃO: Os estudos sobre a síndrome do ninho vazio apresentam limitações e há lacuna de estudos metodologicamente apropriados para que se possa validá-la no contexto brasileiro.

BACKGROUND: The empty nest syndrome is frequently mentioned in the literature as a period of change in the couples' lives, after children leaving home. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to review the conceptual notions related to empty nest syndrome, to verify its current applicability, as well as its peculiarities in different cultures. METHOD: We reviewed the available literature on the empty nest syndrome using the MedLine and PsycINFO databases. RESULT: The empty nest syndrome period occurs along with several changes such as retirement and menopause which can exacerbate feelings of depression and low self-esteem. In addition, social and cultural factors potentially influence the emergence and intensity of the syndrome. CONCLUSION: Studies on the empty nest syndrome have limitations and there is a gap of studies methodologically appropriate in our country to validate it in the Brazilian context.