"THE emotional and social impacts of divorce are felt for decades after a marriage breaks down, leaving a generation of older Australians vulnerable to loneliness and poor health.

A new study into the wellbeing of Australians aged between 55 and 74 - the first generation to experience divorce at high rates - found divorcees felt more socially isolated and less satisfied with life compared with married men and women.

Remarrying seems to allay the negative impacts of divorce, with people who married again reporting similar levels of social support, life satisfaction and health as those who were married to their first spouse.

The research, led by Professor David de Vaus of La Trobe University in Melbourne, follows a study that showed divorce had negative impacts on the financial situation of divorcees decades later.

The latest study was presented yesterday at the Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference in Melbourne.

"This is in fact the first generation of people who are heading into old age from the [1970s] divorce boom," said Professor de Vaus, the dean of the faculty of humanities and social sciences. "The sort of assumption is that people get over it over time. In a sense that's true; it's most traumatic in the first couple of years. But there does seem to be a residual impact."

The researchers compared the wellbeing of about 2200 older Australians - 1500 were in their first marriage, 700 had divorced about 20 years ago, and 400 of them had remarried.

Divorced people caught up with friends or relatives more often than married people, but researchers found they felt more lonely and socially isolated.

Divorcees agreed more strongly with statements such as "I don't have anyone I can confide in" and "I have no one to lean on in times of trouble" than married or remarried people. They also felt less satisfied with their home, financial situation and neighbourhood.

Divorced women rated their health more poorly than married or remarried women.

Professor de Vaus said divorcees often lacked the intimacy and companionship that comes with marriage, even if they had good social networks.

"[Divorce] tends to cut people off from the intimate relationships, the close relationships people need for that sense of belonging," he said.

"It's the companionship … it isn't a matter of having friends around or acquaintances."



http://www.theage.com.au/news/relationships/impact-of-divorce-lasts-for-decades/2008/07/09/1215282985681.html

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jul 11^th, 2008 at 10:58am:



Sprint, I'm interested.... you're a divorcee and, you've remarried. Can you relate with the article?

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jul 11^th, 2008 at 1:40pm:




Not trusted? How so? As in, "don't go to THAT man for financial advice because he's a divorcee". Or, "GET AWAY FROM MY KIDS YOU FREAK!" Or, "here, let me handle the BBQ, you don't seem to know what you're doing"?

Why would other husbands be caustios? Is it because they think that you'll be after their wives? And are the wives cautious because they think tat you'll make a pass at them? If so, then how is that any different when compared to a single non-divorcee?

And how can that perception change merely with marriage?

People and society can be very fickle.

There are too many stigmas within conservative society - divorce, depression, being born out of wedlock, extra marital sex etc.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jul 11^th, 2008 at 3:14pm:


I hear ya!