Assessment of psychological distress and coping strategies among empty nesters in a selected urban community, Coimbatore

Greeny Treesa Jose; Greety Antony; Liji Sara Varghese

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20253673

Authors

Greeny Treesa Jose Department of Mental Health Nursing, PSG College of Nursing, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Greety Antony Sessional Lecturer, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia
Liji Sara Varghese Faculty of Nursing, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20253673

Keywords:

Coping strategies, Empty nesters, Psychological distress

Abstract

Background: Empty nesters are parents whose all children are grown up and left home. Depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances are major concerns that empty nest elderly people face. The aim of the study was to assess the psychological distress and coping strategies among empty nesters.

Methods: Descriptive research design and purposive sampling technique was used in the study. 60 samples participated in the study. SRQ and Brief COPE tool was used for data collection.

Results: 44 (73.3%) of empty nesters had no psychological distress and 16 (26.7%) had psychological distress. Religion 57 (95%) was the most frequently used whereas humour 47 (78.7%), was least used adaptive coping strategy by empty nesters. Self-distraction 53 (88.3%) was highly used whereas substance use 49 (81.7%) was least used maladaptive coping strategy by empty nesters. 51 (85%) had medium, 8 (13.33%) had high and 1 (1.66%) had low usage of adaptive coping strategies. 33 (55%) had low, 27 (45%) had medium usage of maladaptive coping strategies. A weak positive correlation (r=0.12) was found between psychological distress and maladaptive coping strategies. The socio demographic variables such as health problem (χ²=10.25, p≤0.05) and occupation (χ²=11.67, p≤0.05) had significant association with adaptive coping strategies of empty nesters. The socio demographic variables such as income (χ²=23.46, p≤0.05), education (χ²=18.24, p≤0.05), occupation (χ²=16.22, p≤0.05) had significant association with psychological distress.

Conclusions: Humour, acceptance and active coping were the main adaptive coping strategies and self-distraction was the maladaptive coping strategy commonly used by the empty nesters.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Bougea A, Despoti A, Vasilopoulos E. Empty-nest-related psychosocial stress: Conceptual issues, future directions in economic crisis. Psychiatriki. 2019;30(4):329-38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22365/jpsych.2019.304.329

Hartanto A, Sim L, Lee D, Majeed NM, Yong JC. Cultural contexts differentially shape parents’ loneliness and wellbeing during the empty nest period. Commun Psychol. 2024;2(1):105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00156-8

Survey Reveals Empty Nesters Still Supporting Children Financially. Available from: https://www.55places.com/blog/survey-reveals-empty-nesters-still-supporting-children-financially. Accessed on 11 June 2024.

Wang G, Hu M, Xiao SY, Zhou L. Loneliness and depression among rural empty-nest elderly adults in Liuyang, China: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2017;7(10):e016091. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016091

Zhai Y, Yi H, Shen W, Xiao Y, Fan H, He F, et al. Association of empty nest with depressive symptom in a Chinese elderly population: a cross-sectional study. J Affect Disord. 2015;187:218-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.08.031

Narain S. Resilience in relation to Loneliness and Depression among Empty Nest. Explore J Res. 2017;9:128-33.

Narain P. Spiritual intelligence among employed and unemployed women. Int J Indian Psychol. 1997

Anurekha TK, Swathi K, Sathyapriya V, Juliet RM. The happy empty nesters-happiness and perceived social support in elderly. ZENITH Int J Multidiscipl Res. 2016;6(2):1-6.

Huang G, Duan Y, Guo F, Chen G. Prevalence and related influencing factors of depression symptoms among empty-nest older adults in China. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2020;91:104183. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2020.104183

Liu LJ, Guo Q. Life satisfaction in a sample of empty-nest elderly: a survey in the rural area of a mountainous county in China. Qual Life Res. 2008;17(6):823-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9370-1

Wang Z, Shu D, Dong B, Luo L, Hao Q. Anxiety disorders and its risk factors among the Sichuan empty-nest older adults: a cross-sectional study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2013;56(2):298-302. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2012.08.016

Su H, Cao J, Zhou Y, Wang L, Xing L. The mediating effect of coping style on personality and mental health among elderly Chinese empty-nester: a cross-sectional study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2018;75:197-201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2018.01.004

Greenglass E, Fiskenbaum L, Eaton J. The relationship between coping, social support, functional disability and depression in the elderly. Anxiety, Stress and Coping, 2006;19(1):15-31. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14659890500436430

Wu ZQ, Sun L, Sun YH, Zhang XJ, Tao FB, Cui GH. Correlation between loneliness and social relationship among empty nest elderly in Anhui rural area, China. Aging Ment Health. 2010;14(1):108-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13607860903228796

Tepper L, Rogers SA, Coleman EM, Malony HN. The prevalence of religious coping among persons with persistent mental illness. Psychiatr Serv. 2001;52(5):660-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.52.5.660

Maurya A, Kothari SA. Comparative study of coping strategies among empty nest elderly males and females. J Glob Values. 2020;11(2):289-97.

Zhang C, Xue Y, Zhao H, Zheng X, Zhu R, Du Y, et al. Prevalence and related influencing factors of depressive symptoms among empty-nest elderly in Shanxi, China. J Affect Disord. 2019;245:750-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.11.045