Unequal Burdens: New Research Unveils Gendered Risks in Later-Life Divorce
A wave of new research is challenging long-held beliefs about the vows that bind couples—especially the promise to remain united “in sickness and in health.” Recent findings, published in the Journal of Marriage and Family and reported by Psychology Today in May 2025, reveal a surprising and deeply concerning trend: women who fall ill in their 50s and early 60s face a far greater risk of divorce than their male counterparts (psychologytoday.com). For Thailand—a country with a rapidly aging population and shifting social values—this revelation strikes at the heart of family resilience and gender equity.