The findings of a recent study were contradictory to the popular belief that adults suffer from "empty nest syndrome" in later life when their children go away from home.

A recent study found that parents whose children stayed at home were more depressed, as compared to the parents whose children have moved out.

Psychiatrists at King's College, London analyzed data collected from more than 1,000 parents aged 60 and above. The study subjects were questioned by the researchers.

Data analysis revealed that parents whose children lived locally were more stressed than parents whose children lived further away.

Parents of poorer families, with all their children still living in the local area, were found to be the most distressed.

Dr Melanie Abas, lead researcher, said that a commonly-held view is that out-migration of young people has starkly negative consequences for parents living in rural areas as they get older. But the findings of the new study challenge the popular belief that family separation causes older parents to feel abandoned and lacking in support.

The reason behind the newly-revealed phenomena could be that the children who left home are more educated and economically sound; hence reducing the worries of their parents. It was also found that offspring living outside were able to support their parents financially.