Redefining a Couple’s Relationship in the Empty Nest: Together Apart
Résumé
This chapter investigates the phenomenon of weak-tie couples, who continue to officially stay together as spouses despite having a low level of interdependence and spending most of their time apart. Unlike estranged couples living together apart, weak-tie couples still see themselves as a couple. The authors argue that these couples, who were united by parenthood, struggle to find common ground beyond their children and may experience the empty nest phase as a combination of sadness and relief. Despite rarely deriving satisfaction from marital practices, weak-tie couples may experience enjoyment in the empty nest phase due to their increased time to develop personal interests and reduced conflict and tension. The chapter presents typical trajectories of weak-tie couples and highlights four important aspects of their relationship maintenance: reproducing daily practices, displaying couplehood/family, housing or financial issues, and fear of staying alone. The research sheds light on a less studied aspect of marital relationships and contributes to the understanding of how couples navigate the challenges of the empty nest phase.