以家庭周期理论为基础的“空巢家庭”

国内存在着四种空巢家庭的界定，这四种界定各不相同。分析比较发现：第一种空巢家庭的界定过于宽泛；第二种空巢家庭的界定建立在空巢比喻义的基础上因而不够严谨和科学：第三种和第四种空巢家庭界定存在区别的根源在于对家庭生命周期中空巢期的认识不同。通过梳理国内外学者对于家庭生命周期的界定和划分．更清楚地界定了空巢期。在空巢期基础上界定出的空巢家庭可被理解为“那些子女离开起源家庭、父母仍共同居住的夫妇家庭”。清晰界定空巢家庭之后，就可以更好地区分空巢家庭与丁克家庭、独居家庭。

Define "Empty Nest Family"

There are four kinds definition of empty nest family, which are different. Analyzing and comparing four definitions, we can find that the first definition is too broad and the second is less accurate and less scientific. The difference between the third and the forth is the understanding in the period of empty nest. Through clearing up the definition and division about the family life cycle, we can definite the period of empty nest and the empty nest family. The empty nest family is couple family that their child left the orient family. After defining the empty nest family, we can distinguish empty nest family, DINK family and solitary family.