Recent studies indicate that divorce sometimes is positive for subjective well-being but we lack knowledge about the circumstances under which this is the case. Further we lack knowledge about the possible different associations between divorce and life satisfaction (LS) vs. positive affect (PA). The current study is based on the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Change in LS and PA over a three-year period was examined in women who divorced and women who did not divorce (N > 37000). Relationship quality and relationship status at follow-up were included in the models. The results indicated that divorce predicted higher LS and PA when initial relationship quality was poor. Furthermore divorce predicted higher PA for women who after divorce reported being in a new romantic relationship. The associations between relationship quality and LS and PA were stronger among not-divorced than divorced women
indicating that relationship quality affects LS and PA.