American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Practice Test

Which phase of the family life cycle follows the empty nest stage 2?

1. Bachelor stage

2. Retired solitary survivor

3. Full nest stage 1

4. Complex stepfamily

The correct answer is: Retired solitary survivor

The phase of the family life cycle that follows the empty nest stage is the retired solitary survivor stage. This stage occurs when individuals, typically after their children have grown and left home, enter retirement or face aging and potentially living alone. This phase is characterized by adjustments to life changes that come with retirement, such as reevaluating personal goals, social networks, and lifestyle changes. In contrast, the other stages mentioned do not directly follow the empty nest stage. The bachelor stage refers to young adulthood before establishing a family, full nest stage 1 involves having young children at home, and complex stepfamily refers to blended family situations which can emerge from remarriages or cohabitations involving children. Thus, the retired solitary survivor phase logically comes after the empty nest, marking a transition to a new life chapter focused on aging and independence.