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social science subjects > sociology > family studies > families, family development, and parenting > empty nest
... > social science subjects > psychology > social psychology > interpersonal relationships > human relationships > family studies > families, family development, and parenting > empty nest
... > social science subjects > sociology > social interaction > human relationships > family studies > families, family development, and parenting > empty nest
... > social science subjects > sociology > social theory > micro-interactionist theory > social interaction > human relationships > family studies > families, family development, and parenting > empty nest
... > social science subjects > sociology > family studies > motherhood encyc > motherhood and family > empty nest
... > social science subjects > psychology > social psychology > interpersonal relationships > human relationships > family studies > motherhood encyc > motherhood and family > empty nest
... > social science subjects > sociology > social interaction > human relationships > family studies > motherhood encyc > motherhood and family > empty nest
... > social science subjects > sociology > social theory > micro-interactionist theory > social interaction > human relationships > family studies > motherhood encyc > motherhood and family > empty nest

Preferred term

empty nest  

Definition

  • The term empty nest refers primarily to a feeling of loneliness, depression, sadness, and grief that parents, especially mothers, feel when one or more of their children leave the childhood home, either temporarily or permanently. This feeling may result in a loss of purpose and crisis of identity for the parents, especially the mother.The Separation-Individuation ProcessThe clinical definition of separation and individuation is the emotional ability to form one's own sense of self, with one's own opinions, thoughts, and feelings, and to keep emotional boundaries in relationships. [Source: Encyclopedia of Motherhood; Empty Nest]

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URI

https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/empty_nest

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