Divorce rates over age 50 on rise

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - As the divorce rate begins to stabilize across the U-S, new research shows that there's one particular group is getting divorces later in life. Experts are calling it "The Gray Divorce Revolution", and it has risen to its highest level on record.

"Back in 1990 fewer than 1 and 10 people who got divorced were over the age of 50, and we find in our paper, that today, 1 in 4 people getting divorced are 50 and older", says Sociology Professor Susan Brown of Bowling Green State University.

The theory on this "Gray Divorce Revolution" points out that marriage isn't what it used to be. Many sociologists argue that boomers entered marriage with expectations different from those of previous generations.

Linda Reif of Amherst says she believes there are many factors that could attribute to this.

"...when their children leave the house they think, 'Wow! I'm still young, and if I'm not happy I can go find a happier life'. So I think people aren't thinking like it's the end at 50", said Reif.

"People after 50 are much, much more active than they've ever been before. Women are actively working...so we're not totally dependent on men anymore for financial stability into the future", added Jim Goodwin of East Longmeadow.

In fact, according to AARP, it's more the women than the men who are initiating the split.

In addition, with this growing pool of bachelors and bachelorettes, another shot at love is not out of the question--especially with how many dating websites are geared towards senior dating. 

New numbers indicate that this trend will only continue to grow. Over the next 20 years, experts predict that there will be a 25% increase in divorces for those over age 50.