Publication year
2013
Citation Title
Applying the relational turbulence model to the empty-nest transition: Sources of relationship change, relational uncertainty, and interference from partners.
Journal Name
Journal of Family Communications
Journal Volume
13
Issue Number
4
Page Numbers
280-300
DOI
10.1080/15267432.2013.823430
Summary
Parents’ transition from children living in the home to an empty nest often involves many changes in the couples’ marriage. This study interviewed 50 couples whose last (or only) child had left home during the past 18 months about the changes in their marriage. Themes related to both uncertainty and turbulence of marital changes and positive marital relationship changes were identified.
Key Findings
Responses of couples transitioning to an empty-nest suggest both relational improvement and relational hardship during transition.
Participants reported uncertainty over new relational roles, dependency on their partner, their ability to restore intimacy, and their own mortality.
Couples reported several positive changes in the transition to an empty-next, including more couple time, freedom, communication, and privacy, as well as a sense of a new beginning.
Wives, more than husbands, reported feeling guilty for not being present more often for their spouse.
Implications for Military Professionals
Attend trainings about the transition to an empty-nest and how this might impact military couples
Facilitate support groups for military couples transitioning to an empty-nest to allow couples to support one another and offer ideas
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide workshops for empty-nest military couples about common reactions to children leaving the home and useful coping skills for this transition
Educate military empty-nest couples on how to communicate feelings of guilt or hurt
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support programs aimed at military parents navigating the transition to an empty nest
Promote the development of structured leisure activities for military families experiencing the empty nest transitions
Methods
Couples whose last (or only) child had moved out of their home within the previous 18 months were recruited via referral from undergraduate students.
Participants answered open-ended survey questions about the changes to their relationship, the degree of uncertainty with the transition, and the extent to which their partner interfered in goals and activities.
Themes within the couples' interview statements were analyzed.
Participants
Participants included 50 husband and wife couples with a mean age of 54.83 years (SD = 6.61) who had become empty-nesters within the past 18 months.
Participants identified as 74% White, 9% Black, 7% Native American, 6% Asian-American, 1% Latino, and 3% another race.
Couples had been married for an average of 27.5 years and had approximately two children.
Limitations
Couples were not randomly selected, so those that were included may differ from couples with new empty-nests who were not included, including in relationship transition satisfaction.
The data were cross-sectional, and experiences of an empty nest may vary across time.
The sample only included couples recruited via undergraduate referrals from a single university; therefore, results may not be generalizable to all newly empty-nest couples.
Avenues for Future Research
Conduct a longitudinal study to examine how the transition to an empty nest varies for couples over time
Investigate couples receiving counseling to understand difficulties some couples face during this transition
Compare experiences of couples with new empty nests between those who are working and retired
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
This study employs the relational turbulence model to identify common issues facing married couples during the transition to the empty-nest phase of marriage. We surveyed 100 individuals who were part of 50 couples who had recently entered the empty-nest phase of their relationship to identify themes of relationship change (RQ1), relational uncertainty (RQ2), and interference from partners (RQ3) during the empty-nest transition. Results revealed five themes of relationship change: (a) increased couple time, (b) reduced structure provides increased freedom, (c) increased communication, (d) increased privacy, and (e) new beginnings. Four themes of relational uncertainty were identified: (a) new roles and identities, (b) dependency anxiety, (c) love and intimacy, and (d) growing older. Four themes of partner interference were also found: (a) relationship facilitation, (b) guilt, (c) forced activity, and (d) household chores. Our findings suggest that the relational turbulence model may be a useful tool for understanding the relationship challenges faced by couples during late-life transitions.
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