Divorce in the Middle Years

This paper presents the author's clinical impressions concerning the sexual dimension in the lives of recently divorced or divorcing middle-aged men and women. It discusses sexual behavior in middle-years divorce, identifying four main avenues of sexual outlet as well as the motivational elements that underlie this behavior. Also discussed are the use of sex in the divorce process, opportunities for sexual interaction, children and sexual behavior in middle-years divorce, and implications of long-term singlehood for the sex lives of aging women.