Who Pulls the Trigger?

Abstract

The narratives of six Israeli men and nine Israeli women who divorced at ages above 45 were analyzed by qualitative methods to explore the process of divorce initiation in this age group, in first marriages of fifteen years and more. Ten factors associated with the status of “initiator” emerged: gender; the presence of an alternative relationship; pressing for change in the marriage; outside support; economic considerations; health; emotional or physical abuse; “absent partners”; self-esteem and status in the relationship; and dominance. The evidence does not support a definitive profile of a divorce initiator. The narratives demonstrate that deciding to divorce in later life is a shared process, with contributions by both sides, rather than one individual's initiative.

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