Study Reveals Divorcing at a Younger Age May Be Hazardous to Your Health

By Sheryl Rentz on February 15, 2012

The Huffington Post reports that a new study conducted by Michigan State University finds that divorcing at a younger age may be more dangerous to your health than separating later in life. The study’s researcher, Hui Liu, examined health information for a total of 1,282 participants over the last fifteen years in order to analyze the potential difference in well-being between those who stayed married throughout the study and those who divorced. For couples who made the decision to end their marriage, Liu discovered that those who split at a younger age tended to have more health problems than those who divorced later in life.

The findings of the study, which were published in Social Science & Medicine, seem to indicate that older individuals may be better equipped to handle the stress of divorce than younger people. Liu states another explanation of the study’s findings is that older people may be among “the most unhappily married due to years of pressure to stay in their relationships,” and therefore experience greater feelings of relief following the divorce. The finding surprised Liu as she thought younger couples would carry less stress from a divorce because it is more prevalent for the younger generation.

No matter the age, deciding to end a marriage is a very difficult choice, but ultimately may be the best decision for a couple and in the best interest of both parties. If you have decided to part ways with your spouse, the skilled Montgomery County divorce attorney Sheryl R. Rentz can use her years of family law experience to help you throughout the entire divorce process. Call (610) 645-0100 for a complimentary consultation.