Kids leave, mum’s happy
24 May 2002
Most women's quality of life improves after their last child has moved out of home, an Australian study shows.
University of Melbourne researchers found that in the first year of the 'empty nest', most women experience improvements in positive moods and total well-being, and a reduction in negative moods and daily hassles.
These findings are, however, only confined to mothers who were not concerned about their children leaving home.
'The critical variable in the transition to the empty nest was the woman's own perception regarding the child's independence and adulthood,' the researchers wrote in the journal Psychological Medicine (2002; 32: 545-50).
A total of 381 Australian-born women aged 45-55 years were included in the 9-year prospective study. Over this time, the number of households with children fell from 83 per cent to 45 per cent.
While there were no changes to the feelings a woman had towards her partner or sexual frequency, in the first year of 'empty nest', there was a decline in sexual activity when a child returned home.
Last Reviewed: 27 May 2002
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 24/5/02
