Upside Stories Library
Stay curious
Explore our evidence-based insights on life’s big questions, transitions, and challenges for people across midlife and beyond, and those facing these themes ahead of schedule.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Grief After Loss: What Normal Grief Looks Like in Midlife and Later Life
Grief in midlife and later life is rarely simple; it often arrives alongside other losses, identity shifts, and the slow accumulation of a life fully lived. This article explains what normal grief looks like, when it becomes something more, and what helps.
When Caring Becomes a Calling: Psychological Growth in Dementia Healthcare Professionals
For the nurses, doctors, chaplains, and allied health professionals who dedicate their careers to supporting people living with dementia, the rewards are genuine. So too are the challenges. This article explores psychological growth in senior health professionals working in dementia care — and what their experiences can tell us about meaning and purpose, adaptability, and what it means to truly give to another person.
The Dance of Communication: Staying connected in dementia without words
When dementia takes away speech, it can feel like connection is slipping too. But our research The Dance of Communication reveals that even without words, awareness and belonging remain.
Intensive Grandparenting: When helping Becomes a Health and Wellbeing Risk
Across Australia, grandparents are stepping up. With childcare costs at record highs and working parents stretched thin, many grandparents have moved well beyond the occasional Saturday babysit. Some are providing full-time or near-full-time care — managing school runs, meals, illnesses, school holidays, and everything in between (Baxter, 2022). This article explores the difference between enriching involvement and over-functioning — and what the research says about protecting your health and your relationships while staying connected.
Finding unexpected growth after life changing and traumatic events
Can something good really come from something so hard? The answer, backed by decades of research, is yes — though not in the way people expect. Posttraumatic growth isn't about feeling grateful for what happened. It's about the unexpected strength, meaning, and possibility that can emerge from the struggle. This article explains what the research shows — and what it might mean for you.