蜜芽传媒

There鈥檚 plenty of chat on social media about so-called 鈥榞rey divorce鈥�. But are older people around the world really splitting up in record numbers?

The truth is it鈥檚 hard to be sure, because reliable figures on global divorce rates don鈥檛 exist. Where research has been done - most notably in the US - there鈥檚 some evidence that rising numbers of people are deciding to go their separate ways later in life.

We hear from three Americans, including 65 year-old Laura in Virginia. Her immediate feelings post break up - after almost 30 years of marriage - included loneliness and personal reappraisal.

鈥淚t was also a complete loss of my sense of identity,鈥� said Laura. 鈥淚 had my ex husband鈥檚 last name longer than I had my own name. I was a mother and my divorce coincided with my kids launching. So it was, okay, who am I now?鈥�

For 68-year-old Steven in North Carolina, who split from his husband eight years ago, new relationships also required adjustment.

鈥淚t has taken time to rebuild that kind of trust on the emotional level,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd then taking your clothes off at 60 is different to taking your clothes off at 45!鈥�

Two women from Malaysia and South Africa also reveal what grey divorce is like from an adult child鈥檚 point of view.

Hosted by Rahul Tandon. Conversations by Luke Jones.

A Boffin Media production with producer Sue Nelson in partnership with the 蜜芽传媒 OS team and producers Iqra Farooq and Laura Cress.