Divorce Unhealthy For Men

 Posted on October 03, 2013 in Divorce

There have been many studies linking health and relationship status. One such study, reported by Forbes earlier this year, found that marriage could be linked to success in the business world. "Leading a company," reports Forbes, "takes vision and major commitment, not unlike marriage—and being happily married translates very well into the boardroom." This is fueled in part because marriage has long been linked to living longer, and living longer means that "you can accomplish more goals." Marriage, found researchers at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, can also have a significant impact on mortality rates: "non-married women," reports Forbes, "have a 50 percent higher mortality rate than married women while non-married men have a remarkable 250 percent higher mortality rate than married men." Which brings up an obvious quandary: is divorce unhealthy?

Some researchers think yes. According to a paper published at the end of September in the Journal of Men's Health and reported upon by the Huffington Post, "divorce can take a great mental and physical toll on men." And it's not just that the man's relationship status leads to his professional downfall, the study found. It's also that men who are divorced are more likely to engage in self-destructive behavior, "such as abusing alcohol and drugs." Men who are divorced or separated actually have a suicide rate that's nearly 40 percent higher than that of married men. In the same vein, men are more likely to be depressed or seek the counsel of a psychiatrist if they are divorced.

This bucks the long-held conventional belief that men are more immune than women to psychological trauma ("such as divorce, bankruptcy, war, and bereavement," according to the Huffington Post). In fact, Dr. Ridwan Shabsigh, president of the International Society of Men's Health said in a press release that the new research "serves as a warning signal not to follow such unfounded perceptions."

Divorce, however, can't always be avoided, and can in some cases be the healthiest option for all parties involved. Having the assistance of an experienced attorney can help victims of divorce navigate the process as easily as possible, which can help to alleviate psychological damage. Don't go through it alone. If you or someone you know is considering divorce, contact a dedicated Illinois family law attorney today.