A new study from Italy shows why more couples aged 50 to 64 in Europe are choosing to end their marriages. According to the research, health problems, financial issues, and traditional gender roles are the main reasons behind the rising number of divorces in older age.

The study, which was published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, looked at 18 years' worth of data. Researchers studied various factors like how old the couple was, how long they had been married, whether they had children or grandchildren, and if either partner had been divorced before.

They also looked at where in Europe the couples lived, when they were first surveyed, and their level of education.

The study found that couples going through financial stress, or those where only one partner was earning, faced a higher risk of divorce. These money-related struggles often led to more arguments and emotional distance.

One of the strongest reasons for late-age divorces, the researchers found, was poor health. When one partner becomes seriously ill, it can create stress and lower happiness in the relationship. The healthy partner may also feel isolated and burdened by the role of caregiver.

Health problems often come with job loss, less income, and more money problems—all of which put extra pressure on the marriage. If the relationship was already weak, these challenges made things worse.

Researchers noted, “These issues are more common now as people live longer with illness.”

Three types of health problems were studied

The study focused on self-rated health, disability, and mental health. People who believed they were in poor health were more likely to feel unhappy in their relationships. Disabilities, especially when one person needed constant care, added extra strain.

Mental health problems, like depression, made emotional closeness and good communication harder. This often caused couples to drift apart.

One of the most interesting findings was that the risk of divorce was highest when only the woman reported poor health, and the man was healthy. This pattern stayed the same even after researchers looked at job status and money stress.

The risk of separation also increased if the woman, or both partners, had physical limits in their daily life. On the other hand, if only the man had such limitations, the chances of divorce would actually be lower.

As more people live longer and health problems become more common in later life, issues like illness, caregiving pressure, and financial strain are becoming major reasons why marriages don't last. The study shows that in many older couples, these problems, especially when mixed with gender roles and expectations, are causing relationships to fall apart.

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