Study Shows Divorce More Likely If Wife Becomes Ill
We might have made the promise to love one another in sickness and in health on our wedding day but according to a new study not everyone is inclined to stand by their partner through sickness.
A study conducted by researchers at Iowa State University found that when a female spouse becomes ill, marriages are more likely to break down and end in divorce.
The Health and Retirement Study was recently published in the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour. Spanning eight years, the research took place from 1992 - 2010. It was designed to see how the diagnosis of life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer, stroke, lung disease and heart problems, affected marriages.
The researchers analysed a total of 2,701 couples. At least one of the partners had to be over the age of 50 when the research began.
It found that if a wife was diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening condition there was a six percent chance the marriage would end in divorce. By contrast, a husband becoming ill would not affect the outcome of the marriage.
A wave of public reaction
The research generated a wave of reaction, as Amelia Karraker, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State University, said:
"This work has gotten a lot of pretty strong personal reactions from individuals that I've talked to. People have said, 'This happened to my friend', or 'This happened to me - I got breast cancer and then my husband asked for a divorce".
While the research shows a marriage is more likely to end in divorce if the wife becomes ill, it fails to highlight the reasons why.
Women more likely to be depressed
One explanation has been attributed to the fact that research has shown that women are more likely to feel depressed after being diagnosed with a chronic illness, which could put strain on a relationship.
The study also failed to address whether it was the man or woman who initiated the divorce in the wake of the wife becoming ill.
Previous studies have shown that while ill men are generally satisfied with the care their spouse gives them, women who are ill tend to be less satisfied with the care they receive from their husbands.
Illness takes its toll on marriages
Illness can naturally take its toll on a marriage, largely due to financial reasons, particularly if the ill partner is the main breadwinner. As Dr Karraker recognised.
"There is a difference between feeling too sick to make dinner and needing someone to actually feed you. That is something that can really change the dynamics within a marriage", said Dr Karraker.
The prospect of the diagnoses being a 'turning point' for women, spurring them to revaluate their marriage, has also been suggested. As Dr Karraker explains:
"It may be that some of these women say, 'I don't think this is a good marriage; I'm not happy; I want to do something different,' and this is just the impetus to do that".
What are your thoughts on the study? Perhaps you a wife whose husband has looked after you during an illness and you contest the research? Or maybe you know someone whose partner left her when she became ill? We'd love to here our readers' views and experiences about this contentious subject.
Meanwhile, if you have any questions regarding divorce or family law, get in touch with the friendly team of family solicitors at Tracey Miller, for professional, friendly and expert advice.