Study: Divorced Women Have Higher Illness Rate

[fad3r]

Women may give up more than a husband by divorcing — they may also lose some of their good health, according to a study by Iowa State University.

The study, spanning 10 years, focused on what happens to rural women's health after their marriage ends, compared with women who stay married, said Fred Lorenz, who co-authored the report.

"What we found was that the act of getting a divorce produced no immediate effects on (physical) health, but it did have effects on mental health," Lorenz said. "Ten years later, those effects on mental health led to effects in physical health."

The findings came from data gathered from rural Iowa women who were interviewed three times in the early 1990s, and again in 2001. All 416 women interviewed were the mothers of adolescent children when the study began. Among them, 102 women were recently divorced.

During the years immediately after divorce — from 1991 to 1994 — the divorced women reported 7 percent higher levels of psychological distress than married women. They did not report any differences in physical illness at that time.

A decade later, however, the divorced women reported 37 percent more physical illness, but no difference in psychological stress that could be directly linked to the divorce, said Lorenz, who co-authored the study with K.A.S. Wickrama, Rand Conger and Glen Elder. The research was conducted out of the Institute for Social and Behavioral Research based at Iowa State.

The women in the study marked off illnesses from a list of 46 choices — ranging from the common cold and sore throat to heart conditions and cancer.

Lorenz said it appears there is a link between the higher number of physical illnesses and the different stresses associated with divorce, including financial problems, demotions, layoffs and parenting problems. He added that divorced women, especially in rural areas, have poor job opportunities and fewer support systems.

Wickrama said the women also suffer stress from having to make changes in housing, insurance, transportation and time with children.

"It looks like (divorced women) are trapped in this vicious circle of financial problems and other stressful life events ..." he said in a statement.

Lorenz said divorced women in rural areas may not have jobs that offer quality health care, and they may put off going to the doctor for preventive care because of financial constraints.

The researchers adjusted the data for age, remarriage, education, income and prior health.

By 2001, 40 of the divorced women had remarried or were living with a partner, and the study found positive influences on the women's health, Wickrama said.

"We found that divorced individuals who remarried indirectly decreased the risk of health problems because they saw beneficial influences on their financial difficulties," he said.

The study, titled "The Short-Term and Decade-Long Effects of Divorce on Women's Midlife Health," was published last summer in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior. The research was part of an ISU study of romantic relationships and marriage in middle-aged adults that began in 1989 in an eight-county area.

Linda Waite, who co-authored the book "The Case for Marriage: Why Married People Are Happier, Healthier, and Better Off Financially," said many studies have shown that when women are divorced or widowed they see a decline in economic well-being, but the long-term effects of the stress of divorce on health is important new research.

She said it can help friends, family, and the legal and medical communities become aware "that divorce often creates a cascade of negative experiences and events for the families involved, with increased need for help, intervention and support."

[just b u]

not a big surprise. Stress causes your immune system to not function well, therefore easy for many diseases to thrive in your body without any tcells to battle them. this study outcome is not a surprise at all.

I would think the results would be the same for guy but perhaps not to such a degree because in rural areas guys mostly are the ones who provide financially so even if they divorce finances is a less of a problem than for women of rural area who are for most part housewives.

[sexxncandie]

not a big surprise. Stress causes your immune system to not function well, therefore easy for many diseases to thrive in your body without any tcells to battle them. this study outcome is not a surprise at all.

I would think the results would be the same for guy but perhaps not to such a degree because in rural areas guys mostly are the ones who provide financially so even if they divorce finances is a less of a problem than for women of rural area who are for most part housewives.

The difference isn't only seen financially, most studies also show that men recover quicker from divorce and are more likely to remarry, and sooner, For women divorce becomes a negative stigma and most statistics show that they have a lesser chance of remarrying than men do, which would also contribute to the stress factor that negatively affects the immune system - that compounded with the monetary side of it as well as the emotional aspect being much worse for women than for men (usually) would all explain the discrepancy.

[just b u]

I never read much about after divorces and how it effects men and women differently. but through observing life i can see sexxcandie that what u're saying makes a lot of sense. I guess that stigma does weigh in a lot on women's psyche when they divorce.

[sexxncandie]

I never read much about after divorces and how it effects men and women differently. but through observing life i can see sexxcandie that what u're saying makes a lot of sense. I guess that stigma does weigh in a lot on women's psyche when they divorce.

Not only their psyche but also other's interpretations of them (other men, and women - mostly married women).

[Coco69]

this is a depressing read. hence why i wont get married.

[just b u]

this is a depressing read. hence why i wont get married.

but life sucks when u sit on the side lines and dont participate and watch everyone else experience things life has to offer

Marriage is a great thing, it doesnt necessarily have to end in a divorce, keep ur head up lolol

[Coco69]

but life sucks when u sit on the side lines and dont participate and watch everyone else experience things life has to offer

Marriage is a great thing, it doesnt necessarily have to end in a divorce, keep ur head up lolol

it just sounds scary. plus i always get hit on by piggish married men.

must suck being the wife.