Photo of Kenneth L. Gibson Jr.
Photo of Kenneth L. Gibson Jr.
Photo of Kenneth L. Gibson Jr.

Why does gray divorce happen?

On Behalf of | Jun 14, 2019 | divorce | 0 comments

Colloquially referred to as a gray divorce, the trend of later-in-life divorces has received extensive media coverage in recent years. As the Baby Boomer generation ages and medical advances have allowed more people to live longer than in previous time periods, you may have wondered whether gray divorce is becoming more common. According to results published by U.S. News & World Report, Kentucky has the third highest divorce rate in the nation at 14.99 divorces per 1,000 people; the national divorce rate is 11.67 divorces per 1,000 people.

Much like divorce among younger people, gray divorce can occur for a multitude of reasons. Past beliefs have considered “empty nest syndrome” as the culprit for gray divorce, but lately that concept has been challenged. Analysts have found that people who have been married previously are more likely to divorce again, so they have the potential to initiate gray divorces. Though older couples have often been married for decades, you can generally observe that this amount of time does not guarantee they will stay together for the rest of their lives. Sometimes partners see opportunities for infidelity or feel urges for new experiences as they reach the silver years, so they can feel it is kinder to part ways. Recent reports have shown that though couples who go through gray divorce feel grief, they also can find happiness. When you are in a better mood, you often experience better health. High-stress levels have been shown to have a negative impact on overall health in some patients.

This information is provided for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as legal advice.

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Photo of Kenneth L. Gibson Jr.