Relational resources and strains: a gender-perspective on how social capital relates to the well-being of divorcees

This study examines how individual social capital relates to the well-being of divorced men and women, emphasizing gender differences. Divorcees consistently report lower well-being than other marital groups, and although social capital can function as a coping resource, it is both gendered and disrupted by divorce. Social capital is multifaceted, encompassing network resources, socioeconomic diversity, interpersonal trust, and potential relational strain. Using 2017 International Social Survey Programme data from 16 European countries, we estimate stratified multilevel regression models for divorced men and women and compare coefficients using z-tests. Results show that divorced women’s life satisfaction is particularly affected by limited access to socioeconomically diverse networks, which men are more likely to retain. Although women’s kin-centered networks provide support, they may also generate strain that undermines well-being. In contrast, an active social life, including frequent interactions with friends, is more strongly associated with life satisfaction among divorced women than men.