After months of speculation, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have confirmed they are headed for divorce, after 10 years of marriage.
Although any divorce is heart-wrenching and difficult it appears couples like the Hollywood stars might not be as adversely affected by the process as we once thought.
A recent UK study has subverted the common idea that people who divorce have worse health than those who remain married.
In fact, the surprising findings show that middle-aged men and women who have experienced the upheaval of separation, divorce and remarriage are just as healthy as couples in stable marriages.
Over 10,000 participants born in England, Scotland and Wales in the same week of spring 1958 were involved in the study, led by lead author Dr George Ploubidis for the UCL Institute of Education, London School of Economics and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Dr Ploubidis said, “Our research shows that people born in the late 1950s who live together without marrying, or who experience separation, divorce and remarriage, have very similar levels of health in middle age to those who are married. ”
The study is thought to be the first in a large sample of the population, to investigate the links between partnership status and health in middle age.
Unfortunately for singles, the research also indicated that men and women who had neither married nor lived with a partner, had the worst health in middle age, with higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease and respiratory problems. Likely causes are the lack of a supportive plus one or someone to motivate you to exercise and eat well.
“For those people who experience separation and divorce, it appears that as long as they begin another relationship, their health does not suffer in the long term,” Dr Ploubidis explains.
Now that Bennifer is sadly officially over, the world will be watching to see who the Hollywood stars pair up with next.
They released a joint statement today confirming their decision, “We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time.”
Are you surprised by these findings?
