Article

The Gray Divorce Revolution: Rising Divorce Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults, 1990-2010

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Abstract

Purpose: Our study documents how the divorce rate among persons aged 50 and older has changed between 1990 and 2010 and identifies the sociodemographic correlates of divorce among today's middle-aged and older adults. Design and method: We used data from the 1990 U.S. Vital Statistics Report and the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS) to examine the change in the divorce rate over time. ACS data were analyzed to determine the sociodemographic correlates of divorce. Results: The divorce rate among adults aged 50 and older doubled between 1990 and 2010. Roughly 1 in 4 divorces in 2010 occurred to persons aged 50 and older. Demographic characteristics, economic resources, and the marital biography were associated with the risk of divorce in 2010. The rate of divorce was 2.5 times higher for those in remarriages versus first marriages, whereas the divorce rate declined as marital duration rose. Implications: The traditional focus of gerontological research on widowhood must be expanded to include divorce as another form of marital dissolution. Over 600,000 people aged 50 and older got divorced in 2010 but little is known about the predictors and consequences of divorces that occur during middle and later life.

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... As to the nature of this heterogeneity, previous work documenting marital biographies coupled with more recent work delving into both cohabitation and singlehood across the life course suggest that not only are there multiple relationship statuses that individuals will occupy during the transition to older adulthood but there will be discernible movement seen across this period (S. L. Brown & Lin, 2012;Ermer & Keenoy, 2023;Kennedy & Ruggles, 2014;Sassler & Miller, 2023). This focus on movement is guided by life course theory, which suggests that transitions into and out of social roles and the duration of time spent within these roles shape and define the life course (Alwin, 2012;Elder, 1998;Elder & Shanahan, 2007). ...
... Given work on the gray divorce (S. L. Brown & Lin, 2012), a small number of adults may transition from marriage to divorce, particularly for those in more recent cohorts. A small number may also transition to their first marriage during this time, given increasing delays in age at first marriage (S. ...
... Changes in family structure over the past few decades (i.e., rise in cohabitation, increase in later-life divorce; S. L. Brown & Lin, 2012;Sassler & Miller, 2023) mean that more adults are entering their later years with a complex relationship history -one likely to be characterized by greater time spent single. Yet the prevalence and sequencing of these relationship and singlehood histories and how they vary across the transition to older adulthood and over historical time remains to be determined. ...
... Furthermore, virtually all previous studies have investigated the link between partners' relative incomes and union dissolution focusing on active ages. However, union stability at later ages is worth studying because "gray" divorces are becoming increasingly common (Brown & Lin, 2012). Additionally, retirement can be a 'turning point' in late life and is associated with an increased risk of union dissolution (Bair, 2007), above and beyond changes in partners' relative employment and incomes. ...
... Unlike previous studies that mainly considered active ages, we extend the observation window to also include retirement ages. This is particularly important in the context of increasing "gray divorce" that has been observed in the USA (Brown & Lin, 2012) and Europe recently (Solaz, 2021). This is also important because the retirement of one partner affects the relative resources of the couple and may temporarily change the couple's breadwinning status. ...
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The paper studies the association between partners' relative incomes and union dissolution among couples in France. With the increase in dual-earner couples and women’s educational level, couples in which women earn more than their partners are structurally becoming more widespread. Because female breadwinning challenges long-lived social norms regarding traditional gender roles, scholars have theorized a higher risk of union dissolution among female-breadwinner couples compared to couples in other income arrangements. We estimate the risk of union dissolution using regression analyses on unique longitudinal data from French administrative sources containing an unconventionally high number of couples (4% of the population) and separation events (more than 100,000), as well as precise and reliable income measurement. Female-breadwinner couples face a higher risk of union dissolution compared to other couple types. This result is robust to various definitions of female breadwinning and controls for partners’ employment status. Contrary to recent research on other countries, we find no sign of a fading effect among younger cohorts. However, among younger, cohabiting couples and couples in registered partnerships the risk of union dissolution is lowest when both partners are employed and provide a similar share of the total couple’s income, suggesting the emergence of a new profile of stable couples. The female-breadwinner penalty in union dissolution is in place; also in France, it holds among married and cohabiting couples and registered partnerships, across all birth cohorts and levels of household income.
... Available research also shows secular trends in marriage and cohabitation vary markedly and systematically by age group, indicating that secular trends in singlehood prevalence also vary by age. For example, historical decreases in marriage and increases in cohabitation are most pronounced for young adults (Eickmeyer & Manning, 2018;Lee & Payne, 2010), whereas increases in divorce have been more pronounced for middle-aged adults than older adults RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (Brown & Lin, 2012). Such a pattern would constitute a period effect (i.e., over time rates of marriage have decreased for adults of all ages) that is moderated by age (i.e., the magnitude of the decrease varies across the developmental stages of adulthood) -or a period by age interaction. ...
... A limitation of TEA is that its narrow focus on early adulthood precludes an understanding of how such role instability may confer differential opportunities and risks across the lifespan. It cannot speak, for instance, to whether singlehood transitions that occur later in life, such as experiencing a Gray Divorce (Brown & Lin, 2012) followed by a remarriage, would be as beneficial. ...
... Another phenomenon affecting many societies has been the growth in divorce rates, particularly in the US [2,3]. Gray divorce, a term referring to the dissolution of typically long-lasting marriages among people aged 50 years and above, has doubled in the US between 1990 and 2010 [4,5]. Although the increase in gray divorce has since slowed down among middle-aged adults (50-64 years), it has continued to climb among older adults (≥65 years of age) [5]. ...
... The study fills the gap in the literature on marital dissolution by focusing specifically on the older population and considering changes in multiple outcomes over a 20-year period to help estimate post-divorce changes in the wellbeing of older Americans. Previous studies on divorce often used cross-sectional samples or panel data for a short period of time [4,40,41]. Using a nationally representative longitudinal study that follows individuals before, during, and after gray divorce, we minimized potential measurement errors that are typically associated with cross-sectional studies. ...
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The study evaluates the immediate and long-term consequences of gray divorce (i.e., marital dissolution after age 50) for the food security, depression, and disability of older Americans. Staggered Difference-in-Difference models were fitted to a nationally representative longitudinal sample of adults aged ≥ 50 years from the Health and Retirement Study, 1998–2018. Food insecurity and disability increase in the year of gray divorce and remain significantly elevated for up to six years or more following the event, consistent with the chronic strain model of gray divorce. Gray divorce has particularly adverse consequences for the food security of older women, while no gender differences were observed for disability. Increasing trends in gray divorce have important negative implications for food security and health of older Americans, particularly women, who appear to be less prepared to financially withstand a marital collapse in older age. Targeted policies to provide nutrition assistance and support in reemployment might be necessary to reduce the burden of food insecurity in the wake of gray divorce among women.
... In the United States, the divorce rate in adults aged 50 and older has doubled between 1990 and 2010. Today, about one-quarter of divorces occur in this age group (Brown & Lin, 2012). Similar trends have been observed across European countries. ...
... Similar to the United States (Brown & Lin, 2012) and other Western regions (Bildtgård, 2022), divorce rates in later life have surged in Germany (see Supplementary Figure A1). The country is comparable to the United States in its low rank on "defamilization" indices (e.g., Gornick & Meyers, 2003;Korpi et al., 2013;Lohmann & Zagel, 2015), which assess legal norms and public provisions and are strongly associated with financial and caring obligations within families (Saraceno, 2010). ...
Article
Objective With rising grey divorce rates, older individuals face heightened risk of social isolation, highlighting the significance of adult children as a vital source of solidarity in the absence of a spouse. Simultaneously, grey divorce may undermine parent-adult child relationships and weaken the core of the family safety net of older persons. This study examined the consequences of grey divorce for parent-child relationships. Method We used longitudinal data from the German Family Panel (Pairfam), a large-scale panel study collecting detailed information about family relationships and family structure. We focused on adult children aged 18-49 (n=9,092) whose parents were married at first observation. During an observation period spanning up to 13 years (2008-2020), 606 individuals experienced parental divorce. Using fixed-effects models, we estimated changes in contact frequency, emotional closeness, and instrumental and emotional support provided to parents. Results Consequences of grey divorce varied strongly between mothers and fathers. Adult child solidarity intensified for mothers but eroded for fathers. This impact was strongest for changes in contact frequency, moderate for changes in emotional closeness, and smaller for changes in support. The persistence of gender role differentiation was evident, as daughters displayed closer ties and provided greater support to their mothers following a grey divorce. Discussion Divorce alters relationships with adult children. A grey divorce tilts adult child solidarity towards mothers and puts fathers at a higher risk of social isolation. Moreover, the observed gender dynamics underscore the continued influence of gender roles on family dynamics in the aftermath of grey divorce.
... For example, income is a key factor in determining capacity to purchase a property, or a private pension, with those on low income more likely to be restricted to rental accommodation and the State Pension in later life as a result. But a similar argument is less obviously true when it comes to divorce/separation, for example, where low income does not appear clearly associated with greater risks of divorce/separation (Brown & Lin, 2012). More generally, low income among younger adults is known to be associated with poor health and wellbeing, although causal directions and pathways are also contested (Mackenbach, 2020), which then plausibly elevates factors such as the risk of involuntary retirement due to poor health/disability (Banks, 2006) and greater need for care in later life (Humphries et al., 2016). ...
... A concerning trend for the future is that many of the indicators of precarity that are considered in this paper are increasing in prevalence and evidence-based policies are required to mitigate the impact on a growing later-life precariat. For example, trends point to a growth in older people who live in rented accommodation and who experience later-life divorce/separation (Brown & Lin, 2012;Storey & Coombes, 2020). Older renters are among the poorest and least able to cover rent in later life, they are more likely to experience stress associated with the potential to lose their home or to live in sub-standard or inappropriate housing often lacking the capacity to secure housing adaptions to meet their needs (Colic-Peisker et al., 2014;Storey & Coombes, 2020). ...
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This paper captures trajectories of income in later-life and considers how membership of particular income trajectories is patterned by social class, sex and precarity in housing, pensions relationships, care and retirement. Using the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2002-19) for over-50s, latent class analysis identifies 10 income trajectory clusters and on the basis of comparable income levels from around statutory retirement age (65), we further condense these clusters to four income trajectory groups of ‘Luxury’ (at or above £500 per week in retirement; 14%), Comfortable (£300-£500 per week in retirement; 28%), ‘Boom-to-Bust’ (increasing to £600 per week at age 70, falling to around £200 over age 80; 4%) and ‘Always Poor’ (typically less than £300 per week in retirement; 54%). Experiences of precarity and lower socio-economic position are independently associated with greater relative risks of being ‘Always Poor’ and lower relative risks of being in the ‘Luxury’ group, compared to the ‘Comfortable’ group. For example, those who always rent a house are 2 times (p < 0.001) more likely to be ‘Always Poor’ and 0.32 times (p < 0.001) less likely to be in the ‘Luxury’ than ‘Comfortable group. Women are at more risk of being ‘Always Poor’ (RRR = 1.34, p < 0.001) in an unadjusted model, but the association attenuates and is not significant after controlling for pensions and partnership dissolution. Within groups, there are differences in the extent of volatility in income trajectories around retirement age across the ten clusters, that is associated with social class, pension type, involuntary retirement and partnership dissolution.
... Although much is known about how stepfamilies form and adjust over time, scholars have historically studied white, heterosexual stepfamilies. Research has often left out the voices of same-sex stepcouples, African American and Latino stepfamilies, and couples that re-partner later in life (known as "gray" stepfamilies, Brown & Lin, 2012). This section briefly summarizes the research to date on diverse stepfamilies and how their adjustment to stepfamily life may differ from less diverse stepfamily units. ...
... Estate and will planning may also be contentious in gray stepfamilies if and when changes are made to include a new partner above or in addition to existing children. These two challenges, coupled with the common challenges to stepfamily formation, can explain the high divorce rate among couples who remarry later in life (Brown & Lin, 2012). ...
Chapter
Cultural, political, and legal changes in the 21st century have changed the landscapes in which our close interpersonal relationships take place. Many choose to remain single or get married later. Online dating and cohabitation are more readily accepted and common. Our friendships, especially on social media, have gained importance. Issues surrounding gender identity, equity, and sexual orientation also loom large. With the help of technology, more couples, including same-sex couples, are now able to become parents. From same-sex to open and polyamorous marriages, how we define and perceive some of our most important close relationships have changed. The dissolution and reformation of partnerships and families have gained new importance as nontraditional families have become more common. The formation of families through adoption raises questions of identity and successful parenting. Relationships across cultural, racial, religious, and national lines are also more relevant in today’s pluralistic societies. Finally, what types of relationships are considered worthy of scholarly and scientific attention, and the lenses with which to study them, have also evolved. This volume compiles the latest research and theory on close relationships of the 21st century from multidisciplinary and international perspectives with the intent of taking stock of this shifting terrain.
... This phenomenon has been rapidly increasing in large parts of the Western world (Bildtgård, 2022;Brown et al., 2019;Koren et al., 2022). In 2010, approximately 1 in 4 divorces in the United States involved older adults (Brown & Lin, 2012) and the financial consequences, especially for women, are often detrimental (Lin et al., 2021). ...
... Research on gray divorces has shown a rapid increase during the last decades (Brown & Lin, 2012). Our study also revealed high divorce rates among the oldest group of couples (≥45 years of age). ...
... Much of the existing literature on divorce have successfully outlined the characteristics of individuals who get divorced (e.g., their age, financial status, parenthood, past divorce, relationship satisfaction, and emotional stability [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] . While these studies focused on who gets divorced, little is known about why people get divorced. ...
... We may thus hypothesize that intra-couple wealth gaps found in the current study are mainly the result of normative perceptions about financial jointness and less based on legal considerations about ownership. However, it needs to be emphasized that legal ownership may be more relevant in case of a marital breakdown, which increasingly occurs during older age (Brown & Lin, 2012 pension splitting constitutes an alternative approach to de-gendering pension wealth by pooling and redistributing spouses' pension entitlements equally. Lastly, measures targeting genderspecific differences in investment behavior and access to investments may mitigate the gap in spouses' net wealth both before and in retirement (e.g. ...
Article
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Intra-couple disparities in economic resources are often downplayed, yet they substantially affect power dynamics, marital satisfaction, and financial well-being during the marriage and have lasting economic consequences in the event of separation. With the growing privatization of old-age security amidst population aging and welfare cuts, understanding economic intra-couple disparities among retired couples and their life-course drivers is increasingly important. Expanding on previous research that predominantly focused on either singular economic resources or life-course contexts, we use data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (2002-2017) to examine intra-couple gaps in both pension wealth and personal net wealth between older spouses in Eastern (n=846) and Western Germany (n=2331). We find pronounced regional disparities: Pension wealth gaps of 12% in Eastern and 53% in Western Germany, contrasted with net wealth gaps of 21% and 8%, respectively. Regression analyses reveal that differences in spouses' employment histories primarily account for pension wealth disparities within couples, but do not explain net wealth inequalities. This suggests that couples may view net wealth, particularly housing wealth, as a shared asset. Our findings underscore the need for continued monitoring of intra-couple economic inequalities, especially as evolving marital norms and increasing individualization may reshape financial dynamics within marriages.
... Certainly, spouses often are the first line of defence; however, it may be important to investigate the extent to which social support findings from spouses generalize to other close relationship types. This is important given that social relationships in old age are diverse for a variety of reasons including that some older adults do not (or no longer) have a spouse to turn to (Brown & Lin, 2012;Rook & Charles, 2017). There is also significant evidence that nonkin ties are important sources of social support for older adults (Blieszner, 2009;Suanet et al., 2013). ...
Article
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The COVID-19 pandemic challenged older adults’ health behaviours, making it even more difficult to engage in healthy diets and physical activity than it had been prepandemic. A resource to promote these could be social support. This study uses data from 136 older adults ( M age = 71.39 years, SD = 5.15, range: 63–87) who reported their daily fruit and vegetable consumption, steps, and health-behaviour-specific support from a close other every evening for up to 10 consecutive days. Findings show that on days when participants reported more emotional support than usual, fruit and vegetable consumption and step counts were higher. Daily instrumental support was positively associated with step counts, only. Participants receiving more overall emotional support across the study period consumed more fruit and vegetables; no parallel person-level association was found for overall steps. There were no significant interactions between dyad type and support links for our outcomes.
... Late-Life Divorce (LLD), also know 'Grey divorce' often defined as divorce occurring after the age of 50 years, has emerged as an increasingly significant social phenomenon in recent years (Brown & Lin, 2012;Lin et al., 2018). Unlike younger divorcees, older people face unique challenges that make the consequences of divorce particularly complex and far-reaching. ...
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Background As the global population of older people continue to increase, Late-Life Divorce has emerged as an important public health concern. This systematic review aimed to explore the impact of Late-Life Divorce on the well-being of older people. Methods The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. Five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO were searched for articles published between January 1, 2005, and July 31, 2024. Both quantitative, qualitative and mixed method studies were included in the review. The findings were synthesized using Schlossberg's transition theory as a framework. Results The search for literature yielded 468 papers. Seven studies conducted in four countries among 13,878 older people were included in this review. Late-Life Divorce had a significant impact on older people across multiple domains. Women were disproportionately affected, particularly regarding financial losses and economic insecurity. The coping strategies adopted varied among men and women. Women engaged in problem-focused techniques, while men engaged in maladaptive strategies. Social support emerged as an important factor in mitigating the negative effects of divorce, though those facing estrangement or health issues experienced greater challenges in accessing support. Conclusion There is the need for gender-sensitive interventions, financial counselling, and expanded social support services to promote post-divorce well-being of older people. Further research is required to understand the experiences of older divorced men, and individuals in Lower- and Middle-Income settings, where cultural norms and economic systems may shape different outcomes.
... Eine Ehescheidung von Personen, die älter als 50 Jahre alt sind, wird gelegentlich als "gray divorce" (Brown und Lin 2012) bezeichnet. Obwohl die Ehescheidungsraten bis vor wenigen Jahren gestiegen sind und eine beträchtliche Höhe erreicht haben, gibt es in Deutschland nur wenige ältere Menschen, die geschieden sind. ...
... Statistics demonstrate an increasing rate of divorce, 43 and global projections suggest increases in advanced aging, 44 likely indicating a higher future prevalence of widowhood. Thus, offering these individ-uals resources to cope with the stress of marital transitions may be justified as a public health priority to promote cognitive health and well-being. ...
Article
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INTRODUCTION Widowhood and divorce are extremely stressful life events that are associated with dementia, but the neurobiological underpinnings of this risk remain unknown. Amyloid beta (Aβ) load may explain influences of chronic stress, commonly seen in disruptive marital transitions, on cognitive decline. METHODS We examined whether Aβ quantified by tracer uptake on positron emission tomography mediates associations between marital dissolution and executive functioning and episodic memory performance using data from 543 cognitively normal (CN) participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. RESULTS Marriage dissolution was associated with increased Aβ burden (β = 0.56; P = 0.015) and worse memory performance (β = –0.09; P = 0.003). Aβ levels were a significant mediator for the relationship between marriage dissolution and memory (average causal mediation effect = –0.007; P = 0.029). DISCUSSION Findings suggest that stressful life events, such as the dissolution of one's marriage, might exert an effect on Alzheimer's disease proteinopathy, which may subsequently influence poor cognition. Highlights Marital dissolution was associated with increased amyloid beta (Aβ) and memory declines. Aβ burden mediated associations between marital dissolution and memory. Findings were robust to potential non‐linear influences of age. Mediation results were not observed when stratifying marital groups by sex.
... In the longer run, having a partner is a decisive factor for the mental wellbeing of older adults (Lewin 2017;Wright & Brown 2017). With increasing divorce rates among older adults (Brown & Lin 2012), investigating the impact of partnership status and changes therein on older workers' mental wellbeing is an important path for future research. ...
Article
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Increasing numbers of older workers have to postpone retirement to be eligible for pension income. Therefore, knowledge of how to ensure their mental wellbeing is becoming increasingly salient, especially in Nordic countries, where mental health problems are the most important reason for workers leaving the labor market prematurely. Yet, no systematic overview of what influences older workers’ mental wellbeing currently exists. This scoping review aims to build such knowledge and identify gaps in the literature. Employing a multi-faceted search strategy, we identified and reviewed 23 articles. The mental wellbeing of older workers is influenced by (a) working onditions, (b) workers’ socio-economic and psychological resources, and (c) uncertainties in the statutory framework. Research gaps include a lack of knowledge on (i) how the interaction between factors at the individual, workplace, and welfare state levels impacts older workers’ mental wellbeing, and (ii) the determinants of older workers’ mental wellbeing in Nordic countries.
... The results encompassing the demographic characteristics, content validity, factor loadings, and reliability analysis provide a comprehensive understanding of the study's findings. The demographic profile of the participants indicates a majority of individuals aged 20-30 and females, Contradict results by study conducted in America (Brown & Lin, 2012) reported that the divorce rate among adults aged 50 and older doubled between 1990 and 2010. The primary reasons cited for divorce include lack of understanding, familial issues, and financial concerns. ...
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ABSTRACTObjective:The present study endeavors to translate and validate the Emotional Adjustment Questionnaire (EAM) from English to Urdu. The study was bifurcated into two phases: Phase one utilized the forward-back translation approach, while phase twoexamined the psychometric properties of the Urdu-translated version of the EAM. Method;Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) content validity analysis were conducted on a sample of 160 divorced male and female participants to ascertain the factor structure of the Urdu-translated version of emotional adjustment measure (EAM). Both EFA and CFA substantiated a two-factor model with favorable model fit indices (GFI, AGFI, and CFI) falling within the acceptable range of .89 to .93, p > .05, and RMSEA < .06, χ²/df < 3. The estimated reliability (internal consistency, item total correlation, inter-rater reliability test retest reliability) and estimated validity (convergent validity, construct validity, and content validity) for both factors were satisfactory. Conclusion;The finalized model of the EAM with two dimensions in the Urdu language is deemed most suitable for Pakistani culture in Urdu and for assessing how individuals adjust emotionally in different situations. Additionally, the study's results unveiled a statistically significant gender disparity in the adoption of emotion adjustment techniques.Key Word;Emotional adjustment, divorce
... This conclusion is supported by several studies (Gow et al., 2007;Håkansson et al., 2009;Hawkley & Kocherginsky, 2018;Hawkley et al., 2008;Nicolaisen & Thorsen, 2017;Qualter et al., 2015;Stack, 1998;Victor & Bowling, 2012;Xu et al., 2016). On the other hand, bereavement is a shared experience, especially for women who live longer than men (Brown & Lin, 2012). Losing a partner may also indirectly reduce one's social life because it is often accompanied by loss of contact with friends and relatives (Graham et al., 2007). ...
Article
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Loneliness and social isolation, which are significant determinants of both mortality and illness, demand immediate attention. They are critical public health and policy subjects, particularly for older people in long-term care institutions. This review delves into the profound impact of these feelings, such as loneliness, depressive symptoms, and social isolation, on their overall well-being. The objective of this study is to present a comprehensive examination of the characteristics associated with these feelings among older people residing in long-term facilities, drawing attention to this frequently disregarded subject matter. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive scoping review of articles published between 2010 and 2023 was conducted. Six databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Oxford Academic) were searched for relevant articles about loneliness in nursing homes and long-term facilities. The final review, a comprehensive examination of 71 qualitative and quantitative studies, has resulted in seven main themes: sociodemographic factors, physical and mental health well-being, social network, the COVID-19 pandemic, meaningful activities, and loss of autonomy. These findings provide a robust foundation for understanding and addressing loneliness and social isolation among older people in long-term facilities. This scoping review has highlighted six themes, providing evidence and incentive for you, as healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers, to take a leading role in promoting person-centred care and educating your peers about the consequences of loneliness and social isolation. It is crucial to involve family, friends, and other multidisciplinary team members in care planning and decision-making, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts. Most importantly, it would be best to empower older adults to maintain their autonomy, engage in enjoyable activities, and socialise with other service users.
... Individuals who had been in a relationship with their partner for both short and long lengths of time engaged in collaborative coping more frequently than individuals who had been in relationships for moderate lengths of time; this finding was stronger among PWD than partners. Our post-hoc analyses revealed that a majority of couples were in their first marriage and that relationship length was only moderately correlated with age, suggesting the possibility that those with shorter relationship lengths may be on their second marriage/marital-like relationship or more (Livingston, 2014;Brown & Lin, 2012). ...
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Past work has revealed benefits for both persons with diabetes (PWD) and their partners (e.g., spouses) when engaging in collaborative coping to manage a chronic illness, yet little is known about predictors of this type of dyadic coping. Based on conceptual frameworks on communal and dyadic coping, we sought to examine how illness factors, relationship factors, and interdependent personality traits predicted the frequency of collaborative coping among couples managing type 2 diabetes, and whether role (PWD vs. partner) moderated the associations. Cross-sectional survey data from 296 older adults (N = 148 different-sex couples) were analyzed. Multilevel models examined both linear and nonlinear associations between each factor and collaborative coping, controlling for race/ethnicity. Linear associations were found for positive relationship quality, and nonlinear associations were found for diagnostic length and relationship length. No significant associations emerged between interdependent personality traits and collaborative coping. Although PWD reported more frequent engagement in collaborative coping than partners, role only moderated the associations between diagnostic length and relationship length with collaborative coping. Findings contribute to an understanding of potential correlates of collaborative coping and may have implications for health promotion and interventions for older couples managing type 2 diabetes.
... The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted May 15, 2024 Statistics demonstrate an increasing rate of divorce (64), and global projections suggest increases in advanced ageing (65), likely indicating a higher future prevalence of widowhood. ...
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Background: Widowhood and divorce are extremely stressful life events and have been associated with high risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying how this risk is conferred requires further investigation. Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, such as β-amyloid (Aβ), may explain influences of chronic stress, such as those seen in disruptive marital transitions, on declines in cognition. Therefore, we examined whether Aβ mediates associations between marital dissolution (through widowhood or divorce) and executive functioning (EF) and episodic memory (EM) performance in cognitively normal (CN) individuals. Methods: Data from 543 CN participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) were analysed. Outcomes included marital status, Aβ PET tracer uptake, and composite EF and EM scores. Primary analyses assessed relationships between marital dissolution and Aβ pathology, and marital dissolution and cognitive performance, and explored whether Aβ mediated associations between the latter. Results: Marriage dissolution was associated with increased Aβ burden (β= 0.56; 95% CI: 0.11 to 1.02; P= 0.015) and worse EM performance (β= -0.09; 95% CI: -0.15 to -0.03; P= 0.003). Level of Aβ neuropathology was also identified as a significant mediator for the relationship between marriage dissolution and EM (ACME= -0.007; P= 0.029). Conclusions: Aβ pathology was identified as a potential neurobiological mediator for the impacts of chronic stress due to marital dissolution on poorer memory performance. This suggests that stressful life events, such as the dissolution of one's marriage might exert a direct effect on AD proteinopathy, which may subsequently influence poor cognition.
... To a lesser extent, mobility is also expected from older adults who approach (pre-) retirement, aged 55 and older, as professional obligations start to disappear. "Grey" divorces, or separations at ages 50 and older, have increased over the last decades (Brown & Lin, 2012). Also, personal life events, family members' situations (children having themselves children, etc.), health issues, and unsatisfactory or inappropriate housing conditions (Begley & Chan, 2022;de Jong & Brouwer, 2012;Hansen & Gottschalk, 2006) can trigger mobility at that life stage. ...
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Using Belgian administrative datasets (National Register, Census, and death certificates) on individuals aged 20–64 (N=7,246,740 individuals and 4,109 suicides), the study examined the association between mobility and suicide in the context of union transitions and different life stages. Using Cox proportional hazard models, we found that, in general, moving was associated with an increased risk of suicide than immobility, except for moves in the context of union transitions. Additionally, results highlighted that union dissolutions were associated with a higher risk of suicide – regardless of residential mobility. Moreover, mobility (compared to immobility) for individuals who were in stable situations (single or partnered) or who were in their mid-adulthood was associated with higher risks of suicide. Finally, middle-aged adults (aged 40–54) presented higher suicide risks in all cases of residential mobility, including if accompanied by union transitions.
... An additional developing demographic trend that is relevant to divorce and health is the increase of gray divorce, described as divorce among adults older than 50 years. The rate of gray divorce has doubled over the past 2 decades and now accounts for 25% of all divorces in the United States, with a total of 600,000 people over the age of 50 becoming divorced in 2010 (Brown & Lin, 2012). This increase has occurred despite recent stability in the divorce rate, suggesting that younger adults are divorcing less, whereas older adults are divorcing at an increased rate. ...
... Younger couples were excluded as many of them are still studying and living in short-term non-marital unions, whereas those over 64 years old are mainly retired and divorces after prime working age are still quite uncommon. 29 Information on marriages and divorces, as well as sociodemographic factors, was derived from population registers, recorded annually. Data on neurological conditions were derived from patient registers. ...
Article
Background Prior studies suggest that poor physical health, accompanied by functional disability, is associated with increased divorce risk. However, this association may depend on gender, the socioeconomic resources of the couple, as well as the social policy and social (in)equality context in which the illness is experienced. This study focuses on neurological conditions, which often have substantial functional consequences. Methods We used longitudinal population-wide register data from the years 2007–2016 (Denmark, Sweden) or 2008–2017 (Finland, Norway) to follow 2 809 209 married couples aged 30–64 for neurological conditions, identified using information on specialised healthcare for diseases of the nervous system and subsequent divorce. Cox regression models were estimated in each country, and meta-analysis used to calculate across-country estimates. Results During the 10-year follow-up period, 22.2% of couples experienced neurological conditions and 12.0% of marriages ended in divorce. In all countries, divorce risk was elevated among couples where at least one spouse had a neurological condition, and especially so if both spouses were ill. The divorce risk was either larger or similar for husband’s illness, compared with wife’s illness, in all educational categories. For the countries pooled, the weighted average HR was 1.21 (95% CI 1.20 to 1.23) for wives’ illness, 1.27 (95% CI 1.25 to 1.29) for husbands’ illness and 1.38 (95% CI 1.34 to 1.42) for couples where both spouses were ill. Conclusions Despite some variation by educational resources and country context, the results suggest that the social consequences of illness are noticeable even in Nordic welfare states, with the husband’s illness being at least as important as the wife’s.
... Due to population ageing, grey divorce (ie, divorce at age 50 and older) is on the rise in high-income countries. [1][2][3][4] Co-habitation in later life has also been increasing since baby boom cohorts-the first generation to co-habit in larger numbers-have entered late adulthood. 5 However, co-habitation at older ages is less stable than marriage, 6 leading to an increase in non-marital separations among older people. ...
Article
Background Grey divorce and later remarriage have become increasingly common in high-income countries, but previous evidence on their impacts on mental health is scarce. Even less is known about the effects of non-marital separation and re-partnering in later life. Methods Using Finnish registry data from 1996 to 2018 on 228 644 individuals aged 50–70 in 2000–2014, trajectories of antidepressant (AD) use 4 years before and 4 years after divorce, non-marital separation, bereavement and subsequent re-partnering were examined using individual fixed-effects (FE) linear probability models. Results In adjusted FE models, for both genders AD use increased during the 4 years before divorce (men: 5.00 percentage points (95% CI 4.50 to 5.50); women: 6.96 (95% CI 6.34 to 7.59)), non-marital separation (men: 3.20 (95% CI 2.72 to 3.69); women: 5.98 (95% CI 5.30 to 6.66)) and bereavement (men: 4.53 (95% CI 3.97 to 5.09); women: 5.64 (95% CI 5.25 to 6.04)), with the increase accelerating immediately before the event. AD use gradually declined after union dissolution, after which it stabilised on a persistently higher level compared with pre-dissolution. Re-partnering was only associated with a small and transitory reduction in AD use (0.1–1.5 percentage points). The increases in AD use associated with union dissolution were larger in women than in men, whereas the small reductions in AD use associated with re-partnering were particularly short-lived among women. Conclusions Our results suggest that union dissolution in later life is associated with large and persistent increases in AD use, whereas the reductions associated with re-partnering are limited both in magnitude and duration.
... The traditional nuclear family model is evolving, with an increase in single-parent households, cohabiting couples, and households with non-relatives. This shift is partly attributed to changing societal norms and economic factors (Brown & Lin, 2012). For example, Brown and Lin's study on family structure trends in the U.S. found that the percentage of children living in two-parent households decreased from 88% in 1960 to 69% in 2008. ...
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Purpose: The main objective of this study was to investigate migration patterns and the changing demographics of Nigeria. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings revealed that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the migration patterns and the changing demographics in Nigeria. Preliminary empirical review revealed the intricate relationship between migration dynamics and demographic transformations in Nigeria. It reveals that migration, both domestic and international, plays a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria's evolving population structure, particularly in terms of rapid population growth, a significant youth population, and urbanization. The research emphasizes the importance of understanding the demographic consequences of migration patterns and the economic drivers behind international migration. Ultimately, the study's findings hold significance for policymakers, urban planners, educators, and healthcare providers as they grapple with the challenges and opportunities presented by Nigeria's changing demographics, guiding evidence-based decision-making and sustainable development efforts. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Demographic Transition theory, Push and Pull theory and the Dependency theory may be used to anchor future studies on changing demographics. The recommendations from the study highlighted the importance of evidence-based policymaking, data collection, and community engagement. Policymakers should prioritize comprehensive urbanization and migration policies that consider resource allocation and services for a diverse, youthful population. It is crucial to establish a robust database and employ modern technology for monitoring migration trends. Additionally, fostering social cohesion and inclusivity through community-based programs and cultural integration initiatives is essential for peaceful coexistence in evolving urban areas.
... Si bien es cierto que la tasa global de divorcios ha aumentado considerablemente desde los últimos 40 años, la exploración de la bibliografía disponible al respecto muestra un mayor interés en adultos de mediana edad, especialmente en mujeres, y se echan en falta investigaciones que aborden el fenómeno del divorcio en adultos/as mayores. Algunos estudios estadounidenses documentan cómo la tasa de divorcio entre las personas de 50 o más años ha cambiado entre 1990 y 2010, detectándose que una mayor proporción de esta población está divorciada y una parte menor es viuda (Brown & Lin, 2012). Asimismo, otros recientes estudios en el Reino Unido muestran que la ruptura matrimonial es una experiencia cada vez más frecuente entre la población de adultos mayores de las sociedades occidentales, lo que han venido a denominar "gray divorce" o "divorcio gris", que es aquel que se produce a partir de los 50 años. ...
Article
This study examines age discrepancies in couples formed at various stages of life. Both evolutionary and sociocultural perspectives suggest that people's preferences for their partner's age gradually change throughout their lifespan. This study includes European couples ( N = 35,996; 51% women and 49% men) surveyed in two waves of the panel study Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). A linear regression model was employed to analyze age differences in couples concerning when the relationship began. For men, the projected age of their partner decreased by nearly 1 year for every 5 years of their age. A similar but smaller effect was observed for women. These findings were consistent across 29 countries and indicated that men tended to be more inclined to start relationships with younger partners as they grew older. Conversely, women's initial tendency to partner with slightly older individuals shifted toward same‐aged partners as they aged. These results indirectly suggest that preferences in age‐related mate selection may systematically change as individuals grow older. An evolutionary and sociocultural rationale for age disparities seems plausible for men, regardless of their age, whereas sociocultural influences come into play for women as they age.
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A sharply polarized political climate may increase the importance single adults place on politics in partner selection. While the importance of politics in dating decisions is not surprising in light of homophily, less is known about how older adults consider political differences in partnering. We answer two questions about older daters and politics: (1) How do older adult daters consider potential partners' political views? and (2) How do perceptions of rising political polarization shape these preferences? We use interview data with 67 adults (aged 55–92) from the Romance and Dating in Later Life study, conducted in Phoenix, AZ, in 2022–2023. Findings show politics are highly salient in partner selection across gender, class, and ideology, suggesting older singles place substantial importance on political views when choosing partners. Many older singles prioritize shared beliefs, while others practice open‐mindedness. Extremist politics, particularly right‐leaning, are viewed as a significant barrier to dating. This study demonstrates how older daters consider political beliefs in dating decisions, particularly considering perceptions of rising polarization. This contributes to research highlighting the role of political ideology in shaping dating decisions by extending the research to include explicit study of mid‐ and late‐life adults, whose dating experiences differ from young adult singles.
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Using data from the Dynamics of Social Life During COVID-19 Survey (DSL-COVID), we examine dating and romantic relationship interest among singles amid a global pandemic and loneliness epidemic. This study provides a gendered life course perspective to understanding the heterogeneity of singles’ low romantic interest. We find larger gender differences among the previously married than never married singles. In addition, we document a stronger age gradient for single women than men in low romantic interest. We demonstrate that previously married single men’s romantic interest may be more responsive to loneliness than that of single women. These results suggest that lonely single men express the strongest desires to seek romance, net of controls, while single women express lower romantic interest. Overall, we argue for the possibility that a non-trivial segment of singles may exhibit low romantic interest, and their inclusion is important for social science research on union and family formation.
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Abstract Marital stress has been identified as a significant factor influencing the cognitive health of older adults, with emerging evidence suggesting a potential link between marital discord and the risk of developing dementia. This study will review the existing literature on the relationship between chronic stress, depression, marital discord, and the development of cognitive impairment which can increase the risk of developing dementia in older adults. However, the purpose of studying how marital stress affects the onset of dementia is to deepen our understanding of the complex interplay between psychosocial factors and cognitive health in older adults, with the ultimate goal of improving prevention, intervention, and support strategies. Numerous studies have highlighted the adverse effects of chronic marital stress on cognitive function, neurobiological processes, and brain health. Marital conflicts, lack of social support, and emotional distress within spousal relationships have been associated with increased levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can contribute to neuroinflammation and neuronal damage over time. Moreover, there is a higher chance of cognitive decline and dementia among individuals experiencing long-term marital dissatisfaction or conflict. Mechanisms underlying this association include depression, impaired cardiovascular health, disrupted sleep patterns, and heightened psychological distress, all of which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of dementia. Furthermore, the impact of marital stress on dementia risk extends beyond psychological factors, encompassing physiological changes, lifestyle behaviors, social engagement, and access to healthcare. Older adults experiencing persistent marital strain may be less likely to engage in protective health behaviors, such as regular exercise, healthy diet maintenance, and seeking 8 timely medical interventions, thereby amplifying their vulnerability to cognitive impairment and dementia. However, there are a number of well-establish risk factors for developing dementia such as age, family history and genetics, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, head injuries, poor lifestyle, low levels of education, sleep disorders, and exposure to environmental toxins and pollutants. Another of these risk factors is depression, which often results in experiencing stressful life events and it is one significant stressor for many individuals suffering from marital stress. There is very little empirical research on the association between marital stress and the development of dementia hence, future research is needed to study on the impact of marital stress on dementia risk in older adults and understand that long-term marital stress can severely impact cognitive functions. Conclusion: Further research, including longitudinal studies and neurobiological investigations, are needed to elucidate the complex interplay between marital stress, neurobiological processes, and dementia risk, leading to a better understanding of preventive strategies and targeted interventions.
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Research on caregiving in the United States has not clearly identified the scope of the gap between care needed and care received and the changes implied by ongoing and anticipated shifts in family structure. This article examines the magnitude of contemporary gaps in care among older adults in the United States and how they are likely to evolve through 2050. We use data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998–2014) to estimate care gaps, operationalized as having difficulties with activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) but not receiving care. We also estimate variation in care gaps by family structure. Then, we use data from demographic microsimulation to explore the implications of demographic and family changes for the evolution of care gaps. We establish that care gaps are common, with 13% and 5% of adults aged 50 or older reporting a care gap for ADLs and IADLs, respectively. Next, we find that adults with neither partners nor children have the highest care gap rates. Last, we project that the number of older adults with care gaps will increase by more than 30% between 2015 and 2050—twice the rate of population growth. These results provide a benchmark for understanding the scope of the potential problem and considering how care gaps can be filled.
Chapter
This chapter focuses on the health of grandparents and grandchildren in skipped generation households and how they seek to improve their health and wellbeing. Various studies have shown that members of skipped generation households are faced with health challenges. The burden of care in skipped generation households puts the grandparents and grandchildren at risk of physical and mental illness (Wen et al., 2019; Hongthai & Jongudomkarn (2021). The members of the households are also vulnerable to socio-emotional health issues and general wellbeing deficits. However, other studies like Sheikomar et al. (2022) stated the positive influence that grandparents have on the health of their grandchildren, especially when the grandchildren are young. The reciprocal impact of grandparents and grandchildren in improving their health is considered. The contributory role of resilience and social support which serves as a protective factor for grandparents and grandchildren has been noted (Fruhauf et al., 2022). Explanations from role strain theory and the social-ecological model of health and behaviour are considered. The health susceptibility factors are examined, and the contributing effects of social support networks on health are explored. The chapter concludes with issues around health-seeking behaviour and healthcare utilisation of individuals in skipped generation households.
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This chapter highlights a critical gap in research on the contemporary challenges faced by older adults, particularly regarding emerging issues that remain inadequately documented despite existing research on aging in the Indian context. There is a tendency to overlook these emerging concerns by either grouping them with other age groups or rendering them invisible, leading to a lack of formal support mechanisms for elderly care. In India, families are considered the cornerstone of elder care, but their ability to provide comprehensive support is often limited by several factors. This burden is further compounded by ageism, prevalent across various sectors. As a result, both older adults and their families struggle to cope. By compiling and addressing these under researched issues, this chapter contributes to fostering a more nuanced understanding of the diverse concerns experienced in later adulthood. The ultimate aim is to advocate for context-specific programs tailored to promote positive aging and enhance the overall well-being of older adults. This holistic approach is essential in developing effective strategies that address the unique needs of this demographic group.
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Chapter
The goal of this manuscript is to provide a descriptive summary of patterns of remarriage in Japan, a critically important but understudied feature of the country’s demographic landscape with implications for a wide array of policy relevant outcomes, including fertility, child and adult well-being, and family stability. Because existing research on remarriage in Japan by demographers (or social scientists more generally) is extremely limited, we preface our focus on Japan an overview of research on remarriage in other wealthy countries, primarily the U.S. This first chapter provides a broad overview of what we know from previous research about trends in remarriage and correlates of remarriage.
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Divorce among older adults—known as gray divorce—is increasingly common; however, we have a relative gap in knowledge about predictors of gray divorce. Job insecurity, a pervasive and disruptive work-related exposure, may be a salient predictor of divorce among older couples for whom job loss can be particularly detrimental. Using longitudinal dyadic data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998–2020), the present study examined whether labor force status and job insecurity were prospectively associated with the risk of divorce in mid to later life, with attention to differences based on gender (n = 10,446 couples). Discrete-time event history models linked husbands’ and wives’ labor force status and job insecurity with subsequent odds of divorce in mid to later life. Findings show that husbands’ part-time employment, unemployment, and disability status were risk factors for divorce. Wives’ work disability also increased the risk of divorce, whereas wives’ retirement and exclusion from the labor force were protective against divorce. Husbands’ exposure to objective job insecurity (shorter job tenure) and perceived job insecurity were associated with divorce in mid to later life, whereas the adverse consequence of wives’ exposure to shorter job tenure reduced to non-significance with the inclusion of covariates. The present study documents previously untested predictors of gray divorce, finding that work-related factors may be an area of vulnerability for marriages in later life. Understanding the linkages between job insecurity and divorce is important because job insecurity is pervasive and divorce can contribute to declines in health and well-being.
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An increase in grey divorce is being witnessed across the world. Lack of support from spouses during retirement transition can contribute to marital dissatisfaction, along with ineffective retirement planning due to limited resources and poor scheduling. Transitioning into retirement can lead to conflicts over living arrangements, financial management, and post-retirement activities, causing bitterness and tension within the marriage. This correlational study investigated the link between retirement transition planning and marital satisfaction among married individuals aged 50-70 in Kiambu County, Kenya. Data from 400 participants were collected using stratified random sampling. Retirement planning was assessed using the Process of Retirement Planning Scale (PRePS), while marital satisfaction was measured with the Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI). Both scales demonstrated validity and reliability, and data analysis was conducted using SPSS Version 25, involving exploratory analysis, correlation, and regression analysis tests. The study uncovered a positive correlation between marital satisfaction and different aspects of retirement planning such as financial preparation (p>.05, r =.094), self-efficacy (p<.05, r =.158), and perceived social support (p<.05, r =.358). Conversely, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between retirement planning anxiety and marital satisfaction (p<.05, r =-.274). Regression analysis demonstrated that collectively, the individual retirement planning variables accounted for a significant portion of the variances in marital satisfaction among the participants, R2 = 0.315, F(3), p < .05. Thus, interventions aimed at enhancing retirement planning can potentially improve marital relationships.
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Divorce is a phenomenon that is experienced in various age ranges, including among the elderly showing an increasing trend. Previous studies emphasize the negative impact of divorce in old age. This study aims to identify the factors that lead to divorce among the elderly, particularly in the Palembang Religious Court, as well as understand the judges' views on this phenomenon. This field research used a qualitative approach, involving interviews with four judges and analyzing 56 divorce decisions among the elderly. The findings show that elderly couples tend to delay divorce in order to sustain the household, especially for the sake of their children. The decision to divorce is made when they feel unable to endure further problems, considering the greater impact. Thirteen main factors were cited as reasons why elderly couples decided to divorce. While judges attempted mediation, they did not have the authority to force a settlement. The results of this study are expected to provide valuable guidance for legal practitioners and policy makers in designing programs to prevent divorce at an elderly age. The limitation of this study lies in its focus only on the views of judges and decisions in religious courts. Examining the opinions of older people who have divorced directly has not been done, an aspect that needs further research.[Perceraian merupakan fenomena yang terjadi di berbagai rentang usia, termasuk di kalangan lansia yang menunjukkan peningkatan tren. Kajian sebelumnya menegaskan dampak negatif dari perceraian di usia lanjut. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi faktor-faktor yang memicu perceraian di kalangan lansia, khususnya di Pengadilan Agama Palembang, serta memahami pandangan hakim terhadap fenomena ini. Penelitian lapangan ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif, melibatkan wawancara dengan empat hakim dan menganalisis 56 putusan perceraian di kalangan lansia. Temuan menunjukkan bahwa pasangan lanjut usia cenderung menunda perceraian demi mempertahankan rumah tangga, terutama demi anak-anak mereka. Keputusan bercerai diambil ketika mereka merasa tak mampu lagi menahan permasalahan lebih lanjut, dengan pertimbangan dampak yang lebih besar. Terdapat tiga belas faktor utama yang menjadi alasan pasangan lanjut usia dalam memutuskan perceraian. Meskipun hakim berupaya melakukan mediasi, namun mereka tidak memiliki kewenangan untuk memaksa perdamaian. Hasil penelitian ini diharapkan memberikan panduan berharga bagi praktisi hukum dan pembuat kebijakan dalam merancang program pencegahan perceraian di usia lanjut. Keterbatasan penelitian ini terletak pada fokusnya yang hanya pada pandangan hakim dan putusan di pengadilan agama. Menguji pendapat lansia yang telah bercerai secara langsung belum dilakukan, menjadi aspek yang perlu diteliti lebih lanjut.]
Technical Report
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This report examines the feasibility and potential benefits of using existing survey data sets to provide reliable, timely information on marriage and divorce. It assesses the ability of a variety of data sets to produce marriage and divorce statistics at the national, state, and local levels. The main criterion is whether the existing survey data sets provide or can be modified to provide information on marriage and divorce rates, as was collected under the vital statistics system. To identify survey data sets that have the greatest potential for collecting marriage and divorce statistics, the research team established five evaluation criteria. These criteria are used to assess the surveys’ overall relevance and potential for providing marriage and divorce rates over time. The criteria are: (1) relevancy — survey data can be used to calculate marriage and divorce rates, (2) reliability — survey design is likely to provide estimates of marriage and divorce rates that match an external source, (3) representativeness — survey captures broad U.S. population and survey provides state and/or local level estimates, (4) ongoing — survey is planned to continue into foreseeable future, and (5) contains correlates of interest — survey includes correlates and outcomes of interest to research and policy communities. Based on these criteria, three data sets are identified as having the greatest potential for measuring marriage and divorce statistics. These data sets are: 1) The American Community Survey (ACS); 2) The National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG); and 3) The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP).
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This study examines differences between Blacks and Whites in the effect of widow- hood on depressive symptoms and anxiety; in grief symptoms six months after spousal loss; and the extent to which these differences are explained by marital qual- ity, social support from children and friends, and religiosity. Analyses are based on the Changing Lives of Older Couples, a prospective study of 1,532 married individuals aged 65 and older. Widowhood is associated with elevated anxiety and depressive symptoms, yet these effects do not differ by race. Among widowed persons only, Blacks and Whites report similar levels of overall grief, yearning, intrusive thoughts, shock, depressive symptoms, and anxiety, whereas Blacks report significantly lower levels of anger and despair. The racial gap in anger is explained by Blacks'higher lev- els of religious participation and social support from children, whereas the difference in despair reflects Blacks' higher levels of preloss marital conflict.
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I use the Survey of Income and Program Participation (N = 16,452) to measure trends in marital dissolution rates for U.S. women by education level. In marriage cohorts from the mid-1970s to the 1990s, marital dissolution rates fell among women with a 4-year college degree or more, but remained high among women with less than a 4-year college degree. This diverging trend began in the mid-1970s and is not explained by recent increases in women's overall educational attainment, nor by recent increases in age at marriage timing and premarital childbearing. These results suggest a growing association between socioeconomic disadvantage and family instability.
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Recent societal trends have led to simpler divorces, a growing acceptance of divorce, greater personal freedom, and increased gainful employment for women, as well as a general weakening of institutional norms. The occurrence of divorce at mid-life brings losses and adjustments. Divorce at older ages causes similar losses and adjustments, as well as others associated with old age. In addition, the elderly experience divorce indirectly through the divorces of their children. Beyond divorce or widowhood, there are problems associated with remarriage that arise from age, previous marital status, sex ratios, geographic residence, and kinship relationships. The success or failure of a second marriage depends on many factors and is affected by a lack of institutionalized norms fitting the situation. As expectations change regarding the permanency of marriage, and as the family adapts to changes in its structure, desirable goals will include the establishment of normative behavior patterns for the transitions from married, to divorced or widowed, to remarried; clarification of roles and relationships; ways of easing role transitions; and help in the preservation of long-term marital relationships.
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The chances of experiencing a disruptive marital transition in late life are increasing through population aging, and growing numbers of individuals will experience a major transition in familial life during their old age. In this article, the authors discuss the principal trends related to uncoupling in late life and the main reasons for and consequences of it. Primarily, the discussion is focused on uncoupling through martial dissolution.
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We examine the risk of separation or divorce later in the marital career from a family development perspective. With data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Mature Women, we use a hazards framework to estimate the effects of women's economic independence, couples' economic status, and family life course factors on the risk of middle-age separation or divorce. Several dimensions of economic independence and economic status influence the risk of midlife marital disruption. Moreover, the transition to empty nest influences the risk of marital disruption, but the effect of empty nest depends on the duration of the marriage.
Chapter
The current generation of older Americans faces more complex family and marital histories than any prior generation. Moreover, baby boomers, the first cohort to experience high levels of divorce, single parenthood, and remarriage, are now moving into older adulthood. This movement will likely exacerbate the trend away from marriage among older adults. Researchers are uncovering greater heterogeneity and complexity in the family life of older Americans, which in turn portends a shift in the benefits and rewards offered by certain family circumstances (Allen et al. 2000; Cooney and Dunne 2001). The growing diversity of living arrangements characterizing older adulthood is likely to have important consequences for individual health and well-being as well as policy ramifications for the changing types of institutional support older adults require (Wilmoth and Longino 2006).
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The implications of later life parental divorce and widowhood for relations between parents and young adult children are explored in a sample of 3,281 young adults who grew up in intact families. Family disruption that occurred after children were grown had sizable effects on parent-adult child relations. Later life parental divorce lowered relationship quality and contact between adult children and parents. The effects were stronger for father-child than for mother-child relations, and stronger for father-daughter than for father-son relations. Widowhood had negative effects on father-child but not on mother-child relations. Effects of later life marital dissolution on help exchange and financial assistance differed by sex of child and parent. Divorce disrupted parent-son more than parent-daughter support exchange. Death of the same-sex parent had stronger effects on parent-child support exchange than did death of the opposite-sex parent.
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Using data from the young and mature women samples of the National Longitudinal Survey, this paper examines how the determinants of divorce (and separation) vary by the duration of marriage. In general, we find little evidence that the strength of previously identified predictors of divorce varies by marital duration. Variables such as race, wife's labor force participation, husband's employment, and urban residence seem to influence the probability of divorce, irrespective of the stage in the marital life course. The principal exception to this finding is the effect of wife's education, which appears to decrease the probability of divorce at early marital durations but to increase it at later durations. There is also suggestive evidence that the effects of home ownership and age at marriage may vary by marital duration.
Article
Divorce represents the dissolution of a social tie, but it is also possible that attitudes about divorce flow across social ties. To explore how social networks influence divorce and vice versa, we exploit a longitudinal data set from the long-running Framingham Heart Study. The results suggest that divorce can spread between friends. Clusters of divorces extend to two degrees of separation in the network. Popular people are less likely to get divorced; divorcées have denser social networks, and they are much more likely to remarry other divorcées. Interestingly, the presence of children does not influence the likelihood of divorce, but each child reduces the susceptibility to being influenced by peers who get divorced. Overall, the results suggest that attending to the health of one's friends' marriages may serve to support and enhance the durability of one's own relationship, and that, from a policy perspective, divorce should be understood as a collective phenomenon that extends beyond those directly affected.
Article
This study examines whether the meaning of marital conflict and marital solidarity are affected by the transition to retirement, whether the retirement transition alters stability and variability of, and cross-spouse influences on, marital quality, and whether retirement influences latent means of marital quality. Data from both waves of the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) addressed these questions (N= 407 couples for wives’ retirement, and N= 550 couples for husbands’ retirement). Results suggest that the structure of marital conflict is unaffected by husbands’and wives’transition to retirement, but that wives’ continued employment may be associated with greater conflict longitudinally. Husbands’ and wives’ constructs of marital solidarity differ from one another; they were unaffected by wives’ retirement but converged with husbands’ retirement through changes for each partner in the importance of joint time together and potential for divorce. Effects of the retirement transition are far subtler than previously believed.
Article
This study explores how parental divorce that occurs after children have reached adulthood affects parent–adult child contact and proximity. Data are from two waves of the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) and include 1,463 respondents. The findings suggest that divorce affects parent–child contact and proximity differently for mothers and fathers. Compared with stably married fathers, fathers who divorced were more likely to experience a decline in coresidence and weekly contact with at least one adult child. However, divorced mothers were more likely than stably married mothers to report an increase in weekly contact with an adult child. At the same time, the data intimate that divorce may slightly increase mothers’ likelihood of little or no contact with an adult child.
Article
Recent societal trends have led to simpler divorces, a growing acceptance of divorce, greater personal freedom, and increased gainful employment for women, as well as a general weakening of institutional norms. The occurrence of divorce at mid-life brings losses and adjustments. Divorce at older ages causes similar losses and adjustments, as well as others associated with old age. In addition, the elderly experience divorce indirectly through the divorces of their children. Beyond divorce or widowhood, there are problems associated with remarriage that arise from age, pre vious marital status, sex ratios, geographic residence, and kinship relationships. The success or failure of a second marriage depends on many factors and is affected by a lack of institutionalized norms fitting the situation. As expectations change regarding the perma nency of marriage, and as the family adapts to changes in its struc ture, desirable goals will include the establishment of normative behavior patterns for the transitions from married, to divorced or widowed, to remarried; clarification of roles and relationships; ways of easing role transitions; and help in the preservation of long-term marital relationships.
Article
This article reviews the relationship statuses that are common for older adults today. It addresses the prevalence of various statuses among the older adult population as well as their consequences for economic, social, psychological, and physical well-being and adjustment. In addition, consideration is given to how the prevalence and experience of various relationship statuses may change in the next few decades given such demographic changes as reduced mortality, increased education and employment for women, and reduced standardization of the life course. Throughout the article, differences for older men and women are highlighted.
Article
Many cross-sectional studies have found that widowhood is psychologically a more difficult experience for men than for women. However, most longitudinal studies have found either no gender difference or a slightly greater effect for women. The authors attempted to resolve this paradox with data from the first two waves of the National Survey of Families and Households. They found that men whose wives died between the two waves were already highly depressed at time 1, compared with men whose wives survived until time 2. There was no such anticipatory effect for women. Attempts to explain men's elevated depression before widowhood, with predictors involving wife's health, caregiving, and marital quality at time 1, were largely unsuccessful. However, the authors suggest that longitudinal studies that examine change in depression after widowhood may miss the increase in depression for men that appears to occur before their wives' deaths.
Article
The National Survey of Families and Households was used to assess the effects of marital status on contact with adult children (N = 1,929). Respondents were 55 years of age or older, had been married at least once, and had a biological child aged 19 years or older from the first marriage, who was not residing in the home. As hypothesized, divorce had a negative effect on interaction with adult children, and this effect is much greater for men than for women. In particular, those men who divorced when their children were younger had the lowest rates of interaction. These data suggest that the long-term effects of divorce for men are particularly deleterious in terms of interaction with their children.
Article
Research on divorce during the past decade has focused on a range of topics, including the predictors of divorce, associations between divorce and the well-being of children and former spouses, and interventions for divorcing couples. Methodological advances during the past decade include a greater reliance on nationally representative longitudinal samples, genetically informed designs, and statistical models that control for time-invariant sources of unobserved heterogeneity. Emerging perspectives, such as a focus on the number of family transitions rather than on divorce as a single event, are promising. Nevertheless, gaps remain in the research literature, and the review concludes with suggestions for new studies.
Article
We use data from the Current Population Survey to investigate racial differences in recent patterns of marital disruption. Although a leveling in the trend of disruption has occurred for White women since 1980, our results suggest less stabilization in rates of disruption among Black women. We also observe significant differences by race in the effects of key compositional factors on the risk of marital disruption, including age at marriage, education, premarital childbearing, and region of residence. Differences in population composition with respect to these characteristics, however, cannot alone explain the overall racial gap in disruption.
Article
This review encompasses work published in the 1980s that concerns the causes of divorce. Substantive findings are reviewed under three broad headings: macrostructure, demographics and the life course, and family process. Trends in methods, samples, and theory are also reviewed. This decade's research on divorce is characterized by bigger and better data sets, more sophisticated research techniques, and a growing body of conclusive empirical findings in the areas of demographic and life course factors. Relatively neglected areas include theory and family process. The review ends with recommendations for future research.
Article
Using a national sample of 1,298 married persons, we examined the effect of a change in health over a 3-year period on shifts in marital quality. The analysis suggests that decrements in health have an adverse influence on marital quality. Changes in financial circumstances, shifts in the division of household labor, declines in marital activities, and the problematic behavior of the afflicted individual account for much of the health-marital quality relationship.
Article
This study on divorce and the elderly includes a secondary analysis of data taken from Current Population Reports (CPR) and from The National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH). Age specific divorce prevalence rates calculated using the CPR, suggests an increase in the proportion of elderly divorced persons over the last 15 years, with the proportion of divorced women being greater than that of divorced men. Findings from the analysis of NSFH data suggests that women were more likely to turn to others for emotional support during separation than were men. Older women were more likely to than older men, The younger were more likely to than the older. Older women had better adjustment scores and overall happiness than did older men.
Article
This article reviews areas of advancement over the past decade in our understanding of remarriage and stepfamilies and suggests promising new directions for future work. Profound shifts in the demographic context of family life motivate central themes in recent scholarship on remarriage and stepfamilies, including the diversity and complexity of stepfamily structures and processes, the consequences of multiple partnerships for adults and children, and potential selectivity in the characteristics of individuals entering remarried families and stepfamilies. Despite challenges to further progress, I argue that remarriage and stepfamilies offer strategic opportunities to investigate many core concerns of family scholars.
Article
Using three waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study, I examined the association of parental divorce and remarriage with the odds that biological, adult children give personal care and financial assistance to their frail parents. The analysis included 5,099 adult children in the mother sample and 4,029 children in the father sample. Results indicate that adult children of divorced parents are just as likely as adult children of widowed parents to give care and money to their mothers, but the former are less likely than the latter to care for their fathers. The findings suggest that divorced fathers are prone to be the population most in need of formal support in old age.
Article
We used data from 208 individuals who divorced during a 17-year longitudinal study to examine factors that predict adjustment to marital disruption. Using stress and coping theory as a guide, we hypothesized that adjustment would be associated with variables reflecting stressors, resources, and people's definitions of the divorce. Contrary to expectations, we found little evidence that stressors (large declines in per capita income, losing friends, or moving) affected divorce adjustment, except among individuals who were not employed. Adjustment was positively associated with income, dating someone steadily, remarriage, having favorable attitudes toward marital dissolution prior to divorce, and being the partner who initiated the divorce. In addition, older individuals showed some evidence of poorer adjustment than did younger individuals.
Article
Research on families in the middle and later years came into its own during the 1990s, documenting the complexity, malleability, and variety of older family connections. We examined 908 articles on family gerontology topics, observing 4 trends: Conceptually, an appreciation for pluralism and resilience as individuals and families age is apparent. Theoretically, life course, feminist, socioemotional selectivity, and family solidarity theories are increasingly applied to intergenerational family relations. Methodologically, new interest in qualitative methods for studying diverse groups has improved the depth with which aging studies can account for variability in old age; new quantitative methodologies have allowed greater sophistication in dealing with longitudinal data. Substantively, there is greater understanding of family caregiving, social support, parent-child relationships, marital transitions, and grandparenting relationships. The field is poised to take even greater risks in fulfilling the promise of studying linked lives over time.
Article
Our study provides a national portrait of the Baby Boom generation, paying particular attention to the heterogeneity among unmarried Boomers and whether it operates similarly among women versus men. We used the 1980, 1990, and 2000 Census 5% samples and the 2009 American Community Survey (ACS) to document the trends in the share and marital status composition of the unmarried population during midlife. Using the 2009 ACS, we developed a sociodemographic portrait of Baby Boomers according to marital status. One in three Baby Boomers was unmarried. The vast majority of these unmarried Boomers were either divorced or never-married; just 10% were widowed. Unmarried Boomers faced greater economic, health, and social vulnerabilities compared to married Boomers. Divorced Boomers had more economic resources and better health than widowed and never-married Boomers. Widows appeared to be the most disadvantaged among Boomer women, whereas never-marrieds were the least advantaged among Boomer men. The rise in unmarrieds at midlife leaves Baby Boomers vulnerable to the vagaries of aging. Health care and social service providers as well as policy makers must recognize the various risk profiles of different unmarried Boomers to ensure that all Boomers age well and that society is able to provide adequate services to all Boomers, regardless of marital status.
Article
Demographic trends in the 2000s showed the continuing separation of family and household due to factors such as childbearing among single parents, the dissolution of cohabiting unions, divorce, repartnering, and remarriage. The transnational families of many immigrants also displayed this separation, as families extended across borders. In addition, demographers demonstrated during the decade that trends such as marriage and divorce were diverging according to education. Moreover, demographic trends in the age structure of the population showed that a large increase in the elderly population will occur in the 2010s. Overall, demographic trends produced an increased complexity of family life and a more ambiguous and fluid set of categories than demographers are accustomed to measuring.
Article
In spite of widespread interest in both aging and divorce, relatively little research has joined these topics. This study used data from the U.S. Census, Vital Statistics, and Current Population Survey to determine current divorce patterns for women aged 40 +, project marriage and divorce experiences of future cohorts of elderly women, and consider the socioeconomic correlates of divorce for middle-aged and older women. Given current marriage, divorce, and widowhood rates, the findings indicate a marked decline in the proportion of future elderly women who will be married or widowed, and a dramatic increase in the proportion who will be divorced. Further, the data show that the socioeconomic well-being of divorcees is significantly below that of widowed or married women.
Article
While divorce among the elderly is uncommon and relatively few have ever experienced a divorce, the proportion who will have been divorced before reaching old age will increase rapidly in the future. Reasons for expecting an increase in the divorce rate for the population over age 65 are suggested. Knowledge about the effects of marital status upon well-being suggests that being divorced or separated is detrimental to one's social and economic welfare in old age. A futurist set of speculations about impact of the phenomenon is offered.
Article
As population ageing strains social insurance systems, cohorts whose own fertility was low will be reaching elderly status, leaving close biological kin in short supply. However, there is a countervailing trend, inasmuch as burgeoning divorce, remarriage and family blending have expanded the numbers and varieties of step-kin and other non-standard kinship ties. Methods of computer microsimulation in conjunction with richer sample surveys can help us to foresee the contours of kin numbers and kinship relations in the future. Prime areas include the likely frequency of kin-deprived elderly, the overlap with economic deprivation and the interaction between kin frequency and intensity of contact. Step-ties may be weaker but nonetheless critical in raising the probability of at least one compatible member with whom one can choose to maintain contact and rely on. Kinship networks extended through half- and step-links, by stretching across racial and economic lines, may promote social cohesion.
Article
"This study uses a [U.S.] national sample of married persons under age 55, interviewed in 1980 and again in 1983, to estimate why divorce and marital instability vary by age and duration of marriage. Results indicate that the accumulation of assets substantially reduces the propensity to divorce. We also find that several important correlates of divorce and instability (age at marriage, health, social integration, and income) interact with age and duration. In general, these factors seem to operate almost exclusively among young people and young marriages."
Article
"Divorce in later life has been shown to produce dramatic declines in the economic, psychological, and physical well-being of marital partners. This study examines the prevalence and determinants of marital disruption after midlife using Becker's theory of marital instability. Using recent Canadian national data, the marital outcomes of women and men who were married as of age 40 are tracked across the remaining years of the marriage. Cox proportional hazard regression models indicate stabilizing effects of the duration of the marriage, the age at first marriage, the presence of young children, as well as of remarriage for middle-aged and older persons. Other significant risk factors include education, heterogamous marital status, premarital cohabitation, number of siblings, and region."
Article
This study estimates the effects of the transition to widowhood on changes in the social regulation of health and examines the consequences of this association for health and health risk behavior following spousal death. Analysis of longitudinal data from the Changing Lives of Older Couples Study tests the following hypotheses: (a) Widowed individuals experience greater declines in health regulation over time than their married counterparts and (b) the extent to which widowhood undermines health and increases health risk behavior depends on whether it is accompanied by a decline in health regulation. Compared with their continually married counterparts, those who experience the transition to widowhood report a significant decline in the frequency of health reminders and health assistance received from others. The decline in the frequency of health regulation has important consequences for health behavior and health outcomes. Widowhood undermines health and increases health risk behaviors only when it is accompanied by a decline in health regulation. Widowed individuals who experience increases in health regulation show improvements in health and declines in health risk behavior. Interventions targeted at improving the health habits of widowed individuals by mobilizing health-related support systems may be effective at minimizing the negative health consequences of spousal loss.
Integrated public use microdata series (Version 5.0) [Machine-readable database
  • S Ruggles
  • J T Alexander
  • K Genadek
  • R Goeken
  • M B Schroeder
  • M Sobek
Ruggles, S., Alexander, J. T., Genadek, K., Goeken, R., Schroeder, M. B., & Sobek, M. (2010). Integrated public use microdata series (Version 5.0) [Machine-readable database]. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota.
Handbook of sociology of aging (pp. 193–210)
  • In R A Settersten
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In R. A. Settersten, Jr., & J. L. Angel (Eds.), Handbook of sociology of aging (pp. 193–210). New York, NY: Springer.
U.S. interim projections by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin: 2000–2050. Retrieved from http://www.census. gov/population Design and methodology: American Community Survey
  • U S Bureau
U.S. Census Bureau. (2004). U.S. interim projections by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin: 2000–2050. Retrieved from http://www.census. gov/population/www/projections/usinterimproj U.S. Census Bureau. (2009). Design and methodology: American Community Survey. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau.
Calling it quits: Late-life divorce and starting over
  • D Bair
Bair, D. (2007). Calling it quits: Late-life divorce and starting over. New York, NY: Random house.
The divorce experience: A study of divorce at midlife and beyond
  • X P Montenegro
Montenegro, X. P. (2004). The divorce experience: A study of divorce at midlife and beyond. Washington, DC: AARP Public Policy Institute.
Number, timing, and duration of marriages and divorces
  • R M Kreider
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Kreider, R. M., & Ellis, R. (2011). Number, timing, and duration of marriages and divorces: 2009 (Current Population Reports, P70-125).
Evaluation of the marital events items on the ACS Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/ hhes/socdemo The late-life divorced: Another look Economic independence, economic status, and empty nest in midlife marital disruption
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  • J M Lewis
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  • B Hiedemann
  • O Suhomlinova
  • A M O 'rand
Elliott, D. B., Simmons, T., & Lewis, J. M. (2010). Evaluation of the marital events items on the ACS. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/ hhes/socdemo/marriage/data/acs/index.html hammond, R. J., & Muller, G. O. (1992). The late-life divorced: Another look. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 17, 135–150. hiedemann, B., Suhomlinova, O., & O'Rand, A. M. (1998). Economic independence, economic status, and empty nest in midlife marital disruption. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 60, 219–231.
Evaluation of the marital events items on the ACS Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/ hhes/socdemo/marriage/data/acs/index The late-life divorced: Another look Economic independence, economic status, and empty nest in midlife marital disruption The lives and times of the baby boomers
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  • J M Lewis
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Advance report of final divorce statistics
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Clarke, S. C. (1995). Advance report of final divorce statistics, 1989 and 1990. (Monthly Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 43, No. 8). hyattsville, MD: National Center for health Statistics.
Evaluation of the marital events items on the ACS
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  • J M Lewis
Elliott, D. B., Simmons, T., & Lewis, J. M. (2010). Evaluation of the marital events items on the ACS. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/ hhes/socdemo/marriage/data/acs/index.html hammond, R. J., & Muller, G. O. (1992). The late-life divorced: Another look. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 17, 135-150.
The lives and times of the baby boomers
  • M E Hughes
  • A M Rand
hughes, M. E., & O'Rand, A. M. (2004). The lives and times of the baby boomers. Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau.