Men who become widowed or divorced may lose more than a spouse. They are also likely to give up a range of health habits that help protect against disease and early death.
Recently divorced and widowed men eat fewer vegetables, drink more alcohol, and are less likely to quit smoking than their married counterparts.
The study results support the idea that marriage is good for men. Research has shown, for instance, that divorced men are more likely to drink, smoke, commit suicide, develop Alzheimer's disease and die prematurely.
In the current trial of nearly 30,000 men, vegetable intake declined by more than three servings per week in men following the death of a spouse, and nearly two servings per week after a divorce.
Divorced men were also more likely to smoke than their married peers but those who remarried were likely to quit, findings show. Widowed men were more likely than married men to drink heavily -- more than 21 drinks a week.
It is not clear from the study why widowers or newly single men may be more lax when it comes to their health.
Women in general are much better at keeping doctor and dentist appointments. And there may be an unequal distribution of cooking tasks at home...even though most women are also working in paid jobs. Indeed, newly single men also increased their consumption of fried foods outside the home.
According to an earlier study, divorce or marital separation more than doubled the risk of suicide in men but was unrelated to suicide risks in women. Another study linked lower blood pressure in men with social support from a spouse.
Annual Meeting Of The American Psychosomatic Society In Monterey, California March 8, 2001
This is important information to understand. Divorced men seem to be at a clearly increased risk of disease due to their lifestyle habits. It seems that the bulk of the risk is related to the choices in foods. If they can follow the diet and eat less processed and fried foods, their health would likely improve, and not decline after divorce.
I can speak from personal experience. Having gone through a divorce five years ago, which I in no way wanted, I am aware of the pain involved.
However, I also know that one can use that pain to transform one's life for the better. My divorce got me closer to God and sent me on a healing path that has transformed my life and my medical practice for the better.
I am far healthier now than when I was married and am grateful for the experience. If I were still married there is no way I would have the time to produce this newsletter and practice full time.
So the study suggests divorce has the potential to cause health problems in men, but it is my contention, whether or not it does, relies completely on the choices of the individual involved. The same would certainly hold true for women as well.
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