A study by the University of Copenhagen found that middle-aged men, divorced or those who have experienced two relationships that have ended and are alone for over seven years, are at significantly greater risk of death and serious illness than married women or men.
According to the study, it was found that in single men aged 48-62 there is a significant increase of about 17 percent in inflammatory and life-threatening substances in the blood compared to married men.
This is in contrast to divorced women of the same age in whom this effect was not observed.
Warm promotions for the winter
This is a cumulative effect that reaches its peak after seven years of loneliness in men, so they enter the highest level of risk.
It's easier for women to be alone, Photo: GETTYIMAGES
The study followed 4,835 divorced men between 1986 and 2011, and its findings are now published in the Journal of Epidemiology.
Professor Rika Lund, one of the study's editors, explains that "the research evidence clearly shows that men are actually much more dependent on their partners than women."
"Therefore they are also more vulnerable if they lose their spouses. We found several explanations for this together which probably give the reason: among the men we examined we saw that their social networks were much less significant than women's social networks, and therefore are at higher risk for loneliness. "A factor that increases weakness and inflammation in the body," she states.
It's hard for them to seek help, Photo: GETTYIMAGES
"There are also findings that show that men living alone may worry less about themselves and are not particularly happy to go to the doctor to treat their problems. Beyond that, women are more likely to ask for and receive family support for their situation, thus receiving broad support and assistance compared to men," she concludes.
In the study, the researchers isolated the men's initial condition and sorted out effects or other diseases that could have affected the results.
It was later found that the damage is significant, and that single men may develop more vascular disease, heart attacks, strokes and cancer, in addition to a poorer psychological state.
All of these effects were not found in women who experienced divorce, and in them there was no difference in blood chemistry between life in a relationship and life after the relationship, despite the trauma of breaking up a long-term relationship.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us
