UK parents are throwing themselves into changing their lifestyles in order to cope with their grown-up children flying the nest, according to new research from insurer, Zurich.
The findings reveal that more than half (52 per cent) of parents miss their absent children with 42 per cent feeling a significant sense of loss - often referred to as 'Empty Nest Syndrome'. Responding to the change in their lives, 42 per cent holiday more often, with a third (36 per cent) spending more quality time with their partner with a quarter taking up a new hobby or interest to occupy their time.
Another symptom of 'Empty Nest Syndrome', it seems, is the desire to re-style the family home - 53 per cent adjust their decor to reflect the change in their family.
With many feeling the need to keep busy, a third of parents (32 per cent) transform their offspring's room into a study or hobby room. A similar number (30 per cent) simply redecorate their child's room, nearly a quarter (23 per cent) spring clean, and one in ten (10 per cent) re-vamp the entire house.
And the old adage 'there's no time like the present' is appropriate for more than a quarter (28 per cent) of parents who carry out the renovations within two months of their kids leaving. The advice from Zurich for those thinking of doing a spot of home improvement is that they should call in professional help when carrying out major projects. If replacing the children's rooms with a new gym, home office or hobby room, with all the relevant equipment to go with it, remember to keep your insurance company or broker informed so the risk of being underinsured is reduced.
Martin Hall, Head of Personal Lines Underwriting at Zurich Insurance, says, "When adult children leave the family home, it's understandably the end of an era for parents. There's a period of adjustment to go through, and it seems that many parents respond by welcoming change to their lifestyles and homes. But don't forget that it's important to keep their insurance company or broker up to speed with any major improvements - just to make sure you'll be covered."
Notes to Editors
Methodology:
The research was carried out by Tickbox.net in October 2006 and is based on a sample of 1,190 UK parents whose children have left home in the last 10 years.
Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 55,000 people serving customers in more than 120 countries.
