The Echo of the Stagnation or Struggle to Rediscover Life: Stories of Positive and Negative Coping Strategies among Older Adult Empty Nesters in Iran

Background Empty Nest Syndrome (ENS) presents significant emotional challenges for older adult, especially in cultures with strong family bonds like Iran. This qualitative study explores the coping strategies, both positive and negative, employed by empty nesters in Iran, offering insights into how aging individuals navigate the emotional consequences of their children leaving home. Methods We conducted semi-structured individual interviews with 40 empty nesters, a mix of men and women aged 60–97 years, were selected through purposeful sampling. Data collection and analysis occurred concurrently. Thematic analysis revealed two main themes: "Struggle to Rediscover Life" and "Echo of Stagnation," which reflect opposing coping strategies related to aging and family dynamics. Results The themes highlight two distinct sets of strategies: one focused on active engagement, resilience, and personal growth, while the other reflects emotional stagnation and a sense of loss. Positive coping strategies included perseverance, hope, humor, spiritual reliance, and proactive social engagement. In contrast, negative strategies involved emotional rumination, social isolation, and harmful behaviors such as substance abuse. Discussion These results tell us a lot about how complicated Iranian empty nesters feel. They also show how important it is for healthcare and policies to be sensitive to different cultures in order to help older people deal with the mental effects of empty nest syndrome. Knowing both the good and bad ways that this group of people copes can help people come up with personalized interventions that improve their mental health.