A recent study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health sheds light on how divorce impacts men and women differently. The study, based on data from Finland and covering 228,000 individuals aged 50 to 70, reveals interesting patterns.
Women tend to face more significant emotional challenges after divorce or separation in later life compared to men.
The study shows a notable increase in antidepressant use among women during and after divorce, regardless of the specific circumstances leading to the dissolution.
Women exhibit a more pronounced rise in antidepressant consumption, indicating higher vulnerability post-separation.
Both men and women experience a temporary reduction in antidepressant use after reconciliation or entering a new relationship. However, this effect is short-lived, especially for women, whose antidepressant levels quickly return to pre-reconciliation levels.
Contrary to common assumptions, finding a new partner does not necessarily provide lasting emotional support or improve mental health. The researchers speculate that marriage may confer greater mental health benefits to men than women, with older men seeking emotional solace within new relationships.
Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; psychcentral.com; ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; psychologytoday.com; link.springer.com;
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