Divorced women in their 40s to 60s are reporting higher levels of happiness post-split, according to a new survey. The phenomenon, dubbed 'silver splitters', is not limited to billionaires like Melinda French Gates and MacKenzie Scott, but is reflected in the experiences of ordinary women.
A Survation poll of over 2,000 women aged 45 to 65, including 220 divorcees, found that nearly a third (31%) said they were happier than ever before. Many described the divorce as a chance to 'become the women they always wanted to be' and to set themselves up for the next chapter of their lives.
One respondent, 55-year-old Pat, said: 'I want other women to know that my rebirth, my return to my true self post-divorce, has been an amazing experience. I am now so much happier.' The findings contrast with the experiences of men, who often report feeling devastated and confused after a late-life divorce.
Research from 2005 indicated that women are more likely to feel relieved and liberated after a split, while men struggle with feelings of betrayal. Behavioural scientist Paul Dolan's 2019 book 'Happy Ever After' also found that unmarried and childless women tend to be happier and live longer than their married counterparts.
