• 22
  • February
    2012

Readers in Canton may be interested to hear about a study in the journal Social Science & Medicine, which reports that divorce may be more harmful to the health of younger couples than older couples.

A sociologist conducted the study using self-reported long-term health data from a national survey. The study compared the data of couples who remained married and those who got divorced.

The study showed that couples who divorced between the ages of 35 and 41 experienced more health problems than couples who divorced between the ages of 44 and 50. The study also showed that while divorced couples experienced more rapid declines in health shortly after divorce.

While both groups did have more health problems than those who were married, people who remained divorced throughout the study had similar health as those that remained married throughout the study.

According to the Michigan State sociologist that conducted the study, the results suggest that health is not necessarily affected by the status of being married or divorced, but rather, it is the process of transitioning from marriage to divorce that has such a significant effect on health. For anyone who has gone through a divorce, this is not a surprising conclusion.

Divorce can be stressful, and stress can negatively impact a person's health. To avoid unnecessary stresses, it is important for those considering divorce to work with professionals that can assist with the transition. If children are involved, there may be even more reason to seek assistance. Children are all too often the unfortunate beneficiaries of the stresses of divorce, but the trauma of divorce can be lessened if it is handled well.

Therapists can be invaluable to Ohio families as they go through divorce proceedings. In addition, a qualified and experienced divorce attorney not only protects the interests of those divorcing, but can also help to reduce the stress of a divorce.

Source: HealthDay News, "Handling divorce may be easier later in life," Robert Preidt, Feb. 13, 2010.