The article discusses the rising trend of divorces among couples over 50, referred to as "silver splits." A study by researchers Vignoli, Alderotti, and Tomassini revealed that health has a critical impact on divorce rates among older couples. It examined a dataset of over 25,500 couples and found that when both partners are healthy, divorce rates remain stable. However, illness in one partner significantly increases the likelihood of divorce, indicating a conditional aspect of marital commitment that contradicts the traditional vows of marriage.
However, according to February 2025 research from the Journal of Marriage and Family, one of these promises appears to be far more conditional than we'd like to believe.
The study examined data from 25,542 European heterosexual couples between the ages of 50 and 64, collected over an 18-year span from 2004 to 2022.
What they found was deeply unsettling: when both partners remained in good health, divorce rates stayed relatively stable; but health issues began to influence divorce outcomes.
This growing trend in 'silver splits' highlights a significant change in societal attitudes toward long-term marriage commitments, especially in the context of health.
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