Late life marriage dissolution tied to increased antidepressant use among elderly women: BMC

A new study published in the BMJ Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found the separation of older couples (grey divorce) followed by later remarriage in recent years has become increasingly prevalent in high-income countries. The findings revealed compelling insights into the relationship between these life events and mental health.

This study utilized Finnish registry data and spanned over two decades underlines the mental health implications of grey divorce and later remarriage. This research was conducted on a group of 228,644 individuals aged 50 to 70 years between 2000 and 2014 and focused on trajectories of antidepressant (AD) use four years before and after significant life events such as divorce, non-marital separation, bereavement, and subsequent re-partnering.

The findings revealed that prior to divorce, non-marital separation or bereavement, both men and women experienced a significant increase in AD use, with this trend accelerating just before the event. This increase was consisted post-event by stabilizing at a higher level when compared to pre-dissolution rates.

This study found that re-partnering after union dissolution was only associated with a minor and temporary reduction in AD use that ranged from 0.1 to 1.5 percentage points. Also, this reduction was particularly short-lived among women.

The results of this study suggest that union dissolution in later life is associated with large and persistent increases in AD use, whereas the reductions associated with re-partnering are limited both in magnitude and duration.

The implications of these findings are substantial and more important as grey divorce and later remarriage continue to rise throughout the globe. Mental health professionals stress the importance of providing adequate support and precise resources for individuals who have navigated such life transitions in older age groups.

Reference:

Hu, Y., Metsä-Simola, N., Malmberg, S., & Martikainen, P. (2024). Trajectories of antidepressant use before and after union dissolution and re-partnering in later life: a prospective total population register-based cohort study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2023-221529