Study Suggests Divorce Can Actually Improve Life Satisfaction

 Posted on April 28, 2015 in Divorce

There have been a number of studies over the years pointing to the negative health impacts related to divorce. Whether emotional health, physical health or both are affected, many such projects identify the stress of a divorce and its aftermath as potential hazards for those who experience it. Despite the research, however, many have maintained that some health risks are worth it if the alternative is remaining in an unhappy or destructive marriage. A new study suggests that this latter group may have been right all along.

Conducted by researchers from the University of Arizona and the University of Colorado Boulder, the project was recently published in the Journal of Family Psychology. Led by University of Arizona psychology doctoral student Kyle Bourassa, the study looked at more than 1,600 participants between the ages of 25 and 74. Analyzing both men and women by measuring personality traits, depression, and marital status at intervals approximately 10 years apart, the research team looked to identify trends in health and happiness. The team found that for men, staying married or getting divorced had little effect, if any, on their level of life satisfaction. Women seemed to be much more affected, especially those in low-quality marriages. Compared to women who stayed in poor-quality marriages, those who divorced out of them reported much greater life satisfaction years later. The results also showed that women in good marriages remained happier by staying married, while divorce negatively affected women with slightly below average-quality marriages. According to the researchers, the most important finding of their study is the confirmation that divorce does not represent a negative event for everyone. Such an idea matters not only to counselors and marriage experts, but to unhappily married individuals in low-quality marriages. "Those in the poorest quality relationships may face a variety of negative stressors from which divorce provides a clear relief," the team wrote. Despite their circumstances, the thought of divorce is overwhelming for many people. Just understanding where to start can be extremely difficult, let alone the numerous considerations that must be made throughout the process. Fortunately, help is available. If you feel stuck in a low-quality marriage, divorce may provide you the opportunity to improve your life and start fresh. Contact an experienced Illinois family law attorney today at A. Traub & Associates. Our compassionate, caring team understands how difficult a bad marriage can be and is ready to help you build a more hopeful future.