Psychology Compared to their younger adults, elderly are usually at a higher risk of developing psychiatric problems. 24 A number of studies have explored the influence of adult children's migration on the health of older parents left behind, with some studies reporting a significant adverse effect on their mental health.25 The elderly live alone or only with a spouse and may experience anxiety, depression, guilt, and loneliness; the so-called ‘empty nest syndrome’.26 Empty nest syndrome is defined by the Chinese Journal of Public Health as parents having feelings of sadness and loss when their children have moved away and they have no spouse or other relatives living together. Empty-nest elderly, as one of the most vulnerable groups in our country, are at high risk of depression because of their special physical and mental health status.27
24
Corey L. Keyes, Dov Shmotkin, and Carol D. Ryff, “Optimizing Well-Being: The Empirical Encounter of Two Traditions.,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 82, no. 6 (2002): pp. 10071022, https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.82.6.1007. 25 Deependra “Migration of Adult” 26 Deependra “Migration of Adult”
Can-qing Yu, Xiao-yan Sun, and Li-ming Li, “ 空巢老人抑郁症 及其影响因素研究进展 : Prevalence and Influencing Factor of Depression among Empty-Nest Elderly: a Systematic Review,” Chinese Journal of Public Health 17, no. 11 (January 2018), https:// doi.org/10.11847/zgggws1112521. 27
26
