Dr Bruce Walmsley 29/10/26 Dr Bruce Walmsley 29/10/26

Starting Over: Dating, Intimacy, and New Relationships in Later Life

Desire does not retire. Drawing on 13 recent studies, this article explores dating, intimacy and new relationships after midlife, from grief, family reactions and caring roles to dating apps and scams, and when it may help to talk to a clinical psychologist.

Dr Bruce Walmsley 18/10/26 Dr Bruce Walmsley 18/10/26

Long-Term Relationships Under Pressure: What Midlife Does to Couples

Parenthood, empty nests, retirement, caring and changes in intimacy can all reshape a long-term relationship. Here is what recent research says about midlife and couples, and what may help.

Dr Bruce Walmsley 17/10/26 Dr Bruce Walmsley 17/10/26

Men, Midlife, and Mental Health: Why Men Often Struggle in Silence and What Helps

Many men carry stress, low mood and grief quietly. Here is what recent Australian research says about why, and what helps from midlife onwards.

Dr Bruce Walmsley 17/10/26 Dr Bruce Walmsley 17/10/26

Widowhood: The Identity Shock Nobody Warns You About

Losing a partner can change who you are. Research shows loneliness and a shaken identity are common, and that grief and unexpected growth can sit side by side.

Dr Bruce Walmsley 17/10/26 Dr Bruce Walmsley 17/10/26

When Your Body Changes: Chronic Illness, Identity, and Mental Health After 50

When your body changes, your sense of self can change with it. Here is what research says about chronic illness, identity and mental health, and where to start.

Dr Bruce Walmsley 24/9/26 Dr Bruce Walmsley 24/9/26

Retirement and the Loss of Professional Identity

Nobody tells you that the hardest part of retirement might not be the finances, the routine, or the free time. It might be the moment you realise you don't quite know who you are without your work. For people whose professional life was central to their sense of self, such as their competence, their status, their daily purpose and social world, leaving retirement feeling less like freedom and more like loss. This article explores that experience honestly, and what the research says helps.

Dr Bruce Walmsley 21/9/26 Dr Bruce Walmsley 21/9/26

How People Recover After a Grey Divorce

Separating later in life can feel disorienting, and it's natural to wonder how long the hard parts will last. This article explains what the research says about coping, financial impact, loneliness, and a realistic timeline for recovery after a grey divorce.

Dr Bruce Walmsley 17/9/26 Dr Bruce Walmsley 17/9/26

AI Companions for Older People: What the Research Says, and What We Should Be Asking

Can an AI companion help with loneliness? For some older people living alone, emerging research suggests it can. However, the best use appears to be as a bridge back to people, rather than a replacement for human company.

Dr Bruce Walmsley 3/9/26 Dr Bruce Walmsley 3/9/26

Grey Divorce: The Psychology of Separation in Midlife and Later Life

More people are separating later in life than ever before, and it's changing family relationships in ways many people don't expect. This article explains why grey divorce is on the rise and what the research shows about its effect on ties with adult children and friends.

Dr Bruce Walmsley 27/8/26 Dr Bruce Walmsley 27/8/26

Adult Children, Ageing Parents, and the Emotional Middle

Being an adult child with an ageing parent is one of the more emotionally complex positions in midlife. The research is clear that most people take on care not out of obligation, but because the relationship matters. It is also clear that the load tends to fall unevenly, often on daughters, often from a distance, and often without much acknowledgement of the toll it takes. This article draws on four peer-reviewed studies to explore the emotional reality of that position: what the evidence says about guilt, gender, relationship quality, and wellbeing, and when it might be time to talk to someone.