As Ohio readers may know, there is a common stereotype that women marry for money and men divorce their wives for younger women. According to a study conducted by the American Association of Retired People, this is not necessarily the case. The results of the study are based on responses from more than 1,000 divorced men and women.

Results of the study show that women are more likely to leave their husbands. Women initiate two-thirds of divorces. There was no mention of women leaving their husbands for other men with more money. In fact, the most common reasons women wanted a divorce include verbal, emotional and physical neglect.

Interestingly, a quarter of the men involved in the study didn't see it coming when their spouses wanted to divorce them. Many of the men felt they were working to provide financial support for the family, felt pressure to improve their child rearing habits, and to improve the way they treat their wives. Many men felt that their wives had unrealistic expectations.

According to responses, the women interviewed would rather be alone than in a relationship that doesn't meet their emotional needs. After divorcing, 76 percent of women say they feel confident that they made the right decision. Women are more likely to report that they are happier after a divorce than they were during the marriage. Surprising, given the fact that studies show that women are more likely to face financial trouble, have a lower chance of remarrying, experience more anxiety and depression, and have more stress and less sex after a divorce.

Compared with 76 percent of women, only 64 percent of men feel confident that the divorce was the right decision. Of the men who remain unmarried, 57 percent are confident that the divorce was a good thing. Despite stereotypes, as most of us already know, not all women marry for money and not all men leave their wives for younger women. Relationships are hard, so is divorce.

Source: Daily News-Miner, "Divorce's gender gap," Judith Kleinfeld, June 22, 2012