Values-shifts And The Empty Nest Family In An Aging Society

Empty-nest elderly are seen more and more often across China. Professor Shu-ching Lee (1953) of the University of Oregon said the traditional extended Chinese family persisted without substantial structural change for almost 2000 years. To leave aged parents alone at home was considered"impiety"in the past, but now this mindset is being changed along with the reform and development of China. In urban areas, senior citizens are enjoying the freedom of their retired life, with less housework and more leisure time, while in the rural areas, aged population are left alone to look after the family asset and take care of the third generation whose parents may leave home to seek fortunes as migrant rural workers.Based on Xing's subjective well-being studies of the elderly, this qualitative study primarily examines the values of the urban empty-nest elderly by in-depth interview on their financial status, parent-kid relationship, daily activities and attitudes toward twilight romance.Ten samples from Shanghai and Ningbo, two costal cities, were interviewed to talk about their retired life as empty-nest elderly and their perception of traditional values like filial piety and loyalty. The interviews show that urban aged parents are accepting and somewhat enjoying living by themselves rather than staying with their offspring. The idea of rearing kids for one's later life is not as dominant as it used to be because of the prevalence of nuclear families and the awakening of individual well-being of the aged population. Twilight romance, which was once considered"immoral and ugly", is now an issue of dispute, with more and more people holding positive attitudes for it. Future research could be made to see the value difference between urban and rural aged people.