Over the past several years, the “gray divorce” rate has increased according to the Journals of Gerontology. If you’re a California resident, here is some essential information about divorces among older people as well as the benefits of marriage.
Marriage can be good for your health
Older people face a different set of challenges than younger adults. In fact, the divorce rate for younger adults is decreasing while gray divorce rates are going up.
Studies show that married people tend to be in better mental and physical health and have longer lifespans than those who are not married. An analysis from the Psychological Bulletin revealed that across all categories for health outcomes, including cardiovascular health and cognitive function, there were minor but consistent connections between better health and quality marriages.
Why is the gray divorce rate increasing?
There are several factors that factor into why more older couples are filing for divorce than in previous generations. One reason for this may be that the significance and meaning of marriage has changed in the past few decades. Instead of getting married for financial security or to fit societal norms, people are wondering if getting marriage will make them individually happy and causing them to be more fulfilled. If people feel that they can not achieve a sense of contentment from marriage, they are more likely to consider divorce than their parents or grandparents.
It is also important to note that women are more financially dependent these days and don’t have to depend on marriage to ensure they have a home and other necessities taken care of. This means women are more likely to end marriages they are not happy in since they are more career-driven and able to support themselves financially.