Many people might consider divorce to be something more for younger couples. However, while divorce rates for younger people have been going down, they have actually been increasing for those over 50. This kind of divorce, known as gray divorce, occurs for several different reasons. Knowing these reasons can help you see what challenges marriages face as time goes on…
Gray Divorce: What It Is & Why It Happens
Drifting apart
Growing apart is one of the most common reasons for gray divorce. People are always changing as they grow older. Sometimes, this change can result in a disconnect between partners. Over time, they realize that they’ve changed from who they were when they first got married.
This change can show itself in several ways. Empty nest syndrome-the feeling of your home being empty after your child has left-is a common cause. After you’re no longer busy raising a child, you might question what you do now. Furthermore, retirement can also evoke similar feelings of realizing you no longer relate to your partner anymore.
Looking for something new
Feeling stuck in a “same old, same old” routine can leave you looking for something new. This same idea applies to marriage as well. If you feel like you’re just “going through the motions” of your marriage, then you might want to find some new things to do. For many couples, this results in them choosing a gray divorce.
As a person gets older, they might feel like it’s time to do all the things they’ve wanted to but never had the time for. However, their partner might not share that active mentality. When this disconnect occurs, a couple might realizes that it’s better to divorce rather than stay together.
Infidelity
Unfortunately, infidelity doesn’t stop as couples get older. Cheating is a major factor for couples who choose to get a gray divorce. However, there might be some different reasons for why an older person chooses to cheat compared to other ones.
A person might choose to cheat because as they get older, they no longer find their partner attractive. They may also believe that finding someone younger can help them feel younger as well. This can ultimately lead to them cheating and a potential divorce.
