People in New Jersey who make the choice to separate from or divorce their spouse know that they will have many new concerns to contend with and decisions to make. In the midst of navigating complex negotiations about asset and debt division, child support, parenting time schedules and more, divorcing spouses should also take the time to focus on their health. There is a body of research that indicates a person’s physical and emotional health is subject to a dip during this time, and perhaps even after.
MarketWatch indicates that a study of more than 5,700 people, the results of which were published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, found that participants who were separated or divorced had a 46% greater chance of death during the study period. The study did calibrate to factor in ages, genders, beginning health status and more. In general, it found that people who were married reported a higher satisfaction with their lives overall.
Reduced levels of physical activity and an increase likelihood of smoking were also found to be prevalent among divorced or separated participants. Both of these factors can directly contribute to serious health issues.
Prevention magazine indicates that divorced people may have a higher risk of experiencing problems with their sleep, their hearts and their weight. Emotional or mental health can also suffer and depression, anxiety or other mental health issues may arise or become exacerbated during or after a marital divorce. Conscious attention should be given to maintaining good health during what is typically a very trying time.
