Задание №21063 ЕГЭ по Английскому языку

Parents Happier after Their Children Leave Home

Many of us believe that having children is the key to happiness and a 30                           family life. Naturally, this idealistic image is true for some, but researchers say that in reality, children make us happiest when they 31                           the nest – when they have grown up and left home. Researchers in Germany looked at data from a survey of 55,000 over 50-year-olds living in Europe. The researchers discovered that most parents were happier with life after their off spring had left home and started making their own way in life. Researchers say this could be because 32                           children creates financial worry, stress, fatigue and anxiety.

The research was led by Christoph Becker at Heidelberg University. 33                           the role reversal in providing support, Mr Becker said: “Children’s roles as caregivers, providers of financial support or simply as a means of social contact might outweigh the negative aspects of parenthood.” He added that 34                           family relationships may stave off loneliness in ageing parents.

But living separately didn’t mean losing touch. Among parents whose children lived away, researchers also found that parents who were in touch with their children on a regular 35                           were happier than those who weren’t in touch, those who still lived with their adult children and those who never had children.

“Taken together, our results suggest that social networks may be important for wellbeing and mental health in old age. Spouses, partners, and children are often the basis of long-lasting social networks, which can provide social support to elderly people” – perhaps especially when everyone has their own living 36                          , the study concluded.