Date
4-29-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Sarah Jo Spiridigliozzi
Keywords
gray divorce, middle-aged adults, lived experiences
Disciplines
Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Hill, April R., "Exploring the Lived Experiences Within the First Two Years After Gray Divorce Among Middle-Aged Adults" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8208.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8208
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to explore the lived experiences within the first two years after gray divorce among middle-aged adults. Historically, the research has focused on young adults who have experienced divorce, with limited data on middle-aged adults divorcing after being married for at least a couple of decades. Utilizing the suggestion by Polkinghorne, phenomenological researchers conduct interviews with 5 to 25 participants who have gone through the same phenomenon. Thus, this researcher interviewed 14 participants, reaching saturation. These participants were operationally defined as middle-aged adults who have had recently divorced after 20+ years of marriage. This study is imperative because it will help the field of social psychology understand this phenomenon of the gray divorce among middle-aged adults and offer meaning to their lived experiences within the first couple of years after. The results of this study showed positive common themes such as listening to myself, relationships with the children, support, and that life has improved. Common negative themes included loss of relationships with family, feeling depressed, regret from not leaving sooner, financial issues, housing instability, shame, judgment from family, untrusting of future partners, and continuing to fear the ex-spouse. Common themes of life meaning attributed to the gray divorce were finally free to be themselves (autonomous), self-discovery, and healing of self through therapy, spiritual awakening, prayer, protecting their peace, faith in God, and meditation. These results will help professionals and church ministers offer hope by developing structured emotional and spiritual support for middle-aged adults who have divorced.
