The Not-So-Empty Nest: Exploring the Lived Experience of Iranian Parents with Adult Children Migrating from Tehran

Abstract

The migration of the young Iranian generation has resulted in a growing phenomenon of the empty nest for their parents. Traditionally, Iranian families have been characterized by strong familial bonds, but this trend is now being challenged as more children choose to migrate. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of individuals in the empty nest stage following the migration of their children. By focusing on the unique cultural context of Iran, this research explores the impact on parental well-being and addresses the gap in existing literature regarding the empty nest phenomenon in Iran. A purposive sample of seven participants who met the inclusion criteria was selected. They took part in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. The data collected from these interviews were analyzed using Smith's Interpretive Phenomenological Approach. The participants’ experiences were categorized into “encountering the emotions and losses” and “survival in the empty nest.” The encountering stage revealed themes of “emotional shock and adjustment” and “confronting the expected and unexpected losses.” The survival stage highlighted themes of “excessive emotional dependency,” “sticking the parental identity,” and “invisible loyalty to the full nest.” In general, the research data comprises five main themes and 12 sub-themes. Focusing on Iranian family-oriented culture, the primary essence obtained from this study is the concept of a “not-so-empty nest,” indicating that although physically distant, individuals remain engaged in the developmental tasks and challenges of previous stages, suggesting that nests are not psychologically empty.