'Empty nest’ can trigger loneliness and loss in older parents, study finds
Older parents can experience loneliness, emotional distress and a loss of purpose when their children leave home, according to a new pilot study by the University of Hertfordshire.
The research, by University of Hertfordshire social work researcher Professor Denise Turner, is one of the first to examine the impact of the “empty nest” on older adults in the UK.
Professor Turner has authored a piece shortly to appear in The Conservation developing her analysis of a pilot pilot of 53 people, predominantly aged 60 and over, details of which initially appeared in the British Journal of Social Work.
Professor Turner said:
“The “empty nest” has particular resonance for higher education, where, every year, thousands of young people leave their parents to come and study. For many of them this is the first time they will have been childless at home for many years.”
While some participants in the survey described their children leaving as a positive transition, bringing greater freedom, independence and opportunities for self-reflection, others reported significant emotional difficulties.
Those most vulnerable included people living alone, single or widowed parents, and those who had already experienced bereavement, relationship breakdown, poor health or other major life changes.
Professor Turner found that children leaving home can disrupt everyday routines and social contact, while also removing an important source of identity and purpose. For some older parents, the transition appeared to compound existing loneliness or social isolation rather than being an isolated life event.
“My research suggests that people’s experiences vary considerably. Participants under 65 were more likely to identify positive aspects of the empty nest than those aged 65 and over, while married participants reported more positive experiences than those who were single, divorced or widowed,” she added.
More than 26 per cent of respondents said there was an urgent need for greater support and information for people going through the transition.
Professor Turner argues that the empty nest is an overlooked stage of life that deserves greater recognition from social workers and other professionals supporting older people.
Unlike new and expectant parents, who routinely receive information and support around major changes in family life, older parents are rarely offered help to prepare for their children leaving home.
The research suggests social workers could identify the empty nest as a potential point for early intervention, particularly where it coincides with loneliness, depression, reduced social networks or other vulnerabilities.
She also highlights the need for greater recognition of the experiences of groups that have received little attention in previous research, including older men and single parents.
The study acknowledges its limitations, including its small sample and the fact that most participants were White British women recruited through an online forum. However, Professor Turner says the findings highlight a significant gap in UK research and point to the need for larger studies examining how the experience differs according to age, gender, relationship status and cultural background.
With the UK population ageing, the research argues that understanding the emotional impact of major family transitions such as children leaving home will become increasingly important in supporting people to maintain wellbeing, independence and meaningful social connections in later life.