Many parents anxiously wait for the day when their children will separate from them: the «empty nest syndrome» is not easy to overcome. They can be consoled by the results of a long-term study by psychologists at the University of Berkeley (USA).
The scientists, having interviewed women three times (43, 52 and 61 years old), found that those whose children live separately, marriage satisfaction grows from year to year. “The departure of children gives a chance for a new wave of romantic relationships, although it does not affect life satisfaction in general,” comments psychologist Ekaterina Zhuykova. “After being alone again, the spouses compensate for the sadness of separation with a new depth of relationship.” However, the choice — together or separately — often depends on financial capabilities: in Russia, 45% of families live with adult children, in the UK — 22%, in the USA — 17%.