Testing the Theory of Resilience and Relational Load in the Context of Empty Nesters

In examining the marital communication of recent empty nesters, the aim of this study was to test the theory of resilience and relational load (TRRL) (Afifi et al., 2016). The postparental period that follows directly after children leave their parents’ places of residence may present unique challenges for married individuals to navigate together. The TRRL offers a potential explanation as to why some married couples demonstrate resilience and flourish through a stressful season while others do not. To test the TRRL in this context, 113 married persons who became empty nesters within the previous 18 months filled out an online survey. Two covariates (i.e., time elapsed since the last child left their home and closeness with the last of their children (or child) to leave during the month prior to the last child leaving their home) were identified in the preliminary analyses and were used in all subsequent analyses. Results of a second-order partial correlation indicated that empty nesters’ communal orientation and received active-empathic listening were both negatively associated with relational load, but not associated with resilience. In addition, the results of the second-order partial correlation revealed that empty nesters’ communal orientation and received active-empathic listening were both negatively associated with marital conflict, but only communal orientation was negatively associated with stress (i.e., received active-empathic listening was not associated with stress). Finally, the results of the second-order partial correlation indicated that empty nesters’ stress and marital conflict were both positively associated with relational load, but only stress was negatively associated with resilience (i.e., marital conflict was not associated with resilience). Next, four parallel multiple mediation models were run, still controlling for the two formerly identified covariates. Empty nesters’ communal orientation indirectly decreased relational load through stress and marital conflict, controlling for each other as mediators; however, communal orientation still emerged as a direct predictor of reduced relational load in the model. Empty nesters’ received active-empathic listening indirectly decreased relational load through marital conflict, but not through stress, controlling for each other as mediators. Received active-empathic listening did not emerge as a direct predictor of relational load in the model. Interestingly, empty nesters’ communal orientation indirectly increased resilience through stress, but also indirectly decreased resilience through marital conflict, controlling for each other as mediators. Communal orientation did not emerge as a direct predictor of resilience in the model. Lastly, empty nesters’ received active-empathic listening did not indirectly predict resilience through stress or through marital conflict, controlling for each other as mediators; yet, received active-empathic listening did emerge as a direct predictor of resilience in the model. The discussion points to and underscores the importance of having a communal orientation for married, recent empty nesters, as well as the possible individual benefits of having a spouse who displays wonderful listening skills in this season, such as empathically sensing, processing, and responding (Bodie, 2011). Considering what was gleaned in conducting this study, theoretical and methodological future directions are advanced