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Studies show that divorce may have more substantial, long-term, emotional effects that we realize. Assistant Professor Richard E. Lucas of Michigan State University in Lansing, and research affiliate of the German Institute of Economic Research in Berlin claims, “Divorce does seem to cause a permanent decline in levels of happiness.”
In a comprehensive study of more than 30,000 German participants, Lucas sought to examine the emotional significance of divorce on the overall level of happiness of men and women. Lucas found in his 18-year longitudinal study, that a person’s level of overall happiness is significantly lower around the time of divorce. A sense of happiness does not typically return until five years after the divorce, but never returns to the same level as prior to the divorce. Couples who remained married proved to have an overall higher level of happiness than couples that had been divorced, even when they were at the peak of their marriage. Consequently, couples that had eventually got divorced often had lower levels of happiness even prior to their marriage.
Dr. David Yamins, a psychiatrist at the Maimonides Medical Center in New York City, however, analyzes these findings with scrutiny. “In my experience, people who have gone through a divorce and continue on in life don’t seem to be any worse off”, claims Yamins.
Lucas emphasizes that these statistics represent averages of the participants and may not reflect all divorcees. However, in any case, divorce can be a highly stressful and emotional process and it is important to seek help and support from friends and healthcare professionals for your emotional concerns as well as the guidance of a qualified divorce attorney for your legal questions. Find a lawyer today.