Grey Divorce: the impact on mental health and the risk factors influencing post grey divorce adjustment. A narrative Review

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Published: Apr 19, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/socialwork-rss.42955
Keywords:
grey divorce , mental health social stigma mental resilience
Eleni Mavroeidi
Stefanos Vassilopoulos
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2133-4619
Mary Gouva
Georgia Konstantopoulou
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3677-3307
Manolis Mentis
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0122-9777
Abstract

Grey divorce, or divorce that occurs in middle-aged and older adults (usually 50 years of age and older), is a phenomenon of increasing importance in many Western societies, among which Europe and the USA. Demographic change, shifting social norms, and increased life expectancy have contributed to the increase in divorces in midlife. At the same time, the impact of grey divorce on the mental health of middle-aged divorcees is significant and multidimensional, affecting not only the individual but also their social environment. This narrative literature review attempts to summarize and compare the recent findings on grey divorce and its effect on mental health in Western countries. It focuses on mental health factors such as stress, depression, loneliness and mental resilience and also examines social stigma, gender and social support. The review results indicate that social support is a protective factor for the mental health of grey divorcees. The literature also suggests that grey divorcees experience gender differences and social stigma, especially in Europe, with women carrying a heavier burden in terms of long-term psychological stress after a grey divorce. In all, this review showcases a wide range of mental health risk and protective factors for the grey divorcees and suggests directions for future research and practical interventions.


 

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