Do daily interaction patterns differ between empty nesters and non‐empty nesters? The role of different interaction partners in a Chinese sample

Abstract The empty nest is a phase of life that most parents will experience when their children grow up and leave home. However, little attention has been given to changes that take place in empty nesters' daily patterns of interaction. This study aimed to examine the differences between empty nesters and non‐empty nesters in relation to their daily interactions and the affect of various social partners. A total of 208 participants were recruited via convenience sampling; they were asked to record their daily interactions using the Rochester Interaction Record and to rate their affect after each interaction using the Positive Affect–Negative Affect Scale. The results showed that daily interactions were related to a higher increase of positive affect in empty nesters than in non‐empty nesters when interactions were with adult children. In contrast, daily interactions of non‐empty nesters were related to a higher decrease in negative affect when the interactions were with friends, neighbors, and strangers. These findings indicate that the patterns of daily interactions differ between empty nesters and non‐empty nesters. Specifically, the daily interactions of empty nesters were seen to be more related to a higher increase in positive affect, whereas the daily interactions of non‐empty nesters were seen to be more related to a higher decrease in negative affect. This study showed the differences in daily interaction patterns between empty and non‐empty nesters across diverse social partners. The findings on the daily interaction patterns have some implications for older adults: (1) empty nesters can improve daily interaction with adult children, relatives, and colleagues for a higher positive affect; (2) non‐empty nesters can improve daily interactions with friends, neighbors, and strangers to relieve their negative affect.