Ready to have your mind blown? Among the college-educated population in the U.S., the divorce rate is lower than it has been in 30 years – except for one category: people over 50. In fact, about one in four people going through a divorce is over 50. The trend is known as “gray divorce.”
Reasons for Gray Divorce
It’s true that many people over 50 are on their second and third marriages – which are typically less stable than first marriages. But more than 55 percent of gray divorces involve first-time splits for couples who have been married for more than 20 years.
While the divorce rate has stabilized or even lowered for just about every other demographic, the gray divorce rate has more than doubled since 1990. The reasons why include:
- Longer life spans. Medical technology has helped us enjoy longer lives than in previous times. Beyond living longer, we’re also healthier and more active for a longer time. Another component to the human psyche is that our interests, tastes, likes and dislikes are changing. When we’re 50 or 65, we’re a far different person than when we were in our 20s and 30s.
- Less of a stigma associated with divorce. By and large, divorce is accepted as a way of life for many in the U.S. Also, couples over 50 are usually past the child rearing stage and no longer feel they have to stay together “for the sake of the children.”
- Great self-respect. A study conducted by Rutgers University revealed that men and women who have been married for a long time look at marital problems in different ways.Speaking with more than 700 couples who have been together for 39 years or longer, researchers found that women tend to worry and experience depression and frustration over marital problems. Men, on the other hand, merely feel frustration – nothing more. Because 80 percent of divorces are initiated by women, it’s believed that women are becoming increasingly more confident in their ability to live on their own.
San Diego’s Men’s Legal Center Can Represent You
No matter how old you are or what your situation is, doing through a divorce successfully almost requires the skilled advice of a lawyer who knows divorce law inside and out. If you’re facing divorce or are considering it, we welcome you to contact us at the Men’s Legal Center in San Diego today at (619) 234-3838.
