Divorce and Mental Health, Research Paper Example

Introduction

The below study is created to review the current literature related to connection between divorce and mental health issues; in particular depression and anxiety disorders. In the following critique, the authors would like to summarize the findings of three journal articles researching the correlation between poor mental health and life crises, such as divorce. The study’s main thesis statement that the authors would like to prove is that there is a strong correlation between mental health issues and divorce/separation, therefore, divorce increases patients’ risk of developing depression or anxiety disorder.

The Role of Alcohol

Rognmo et al. (1) confirm that there is a positive correlation between increased alcohol consumption and divorce. However, the authors state that the relationship works the opposite way: “Alcohol abusers have approximately 20% higher risk of getting divorced compared to the risk in the normal population”. (Rognmo et al. 2) In the survey, the authors examine the effect that divorce has on alcohol consumption, though. Assuming that mental health risks increase after divorce, the study focuses on the role of alcohol, setting up the hypothesis that alcohol makes mental health problems of divorced people more prevalent. One interesting and important finding of the research is that people immediately before divorce are also at a high risk of mental illness, not only after the separation. This is likely to be due to the increased stress level and uncertainty, according to the authors of the current study. Among high risk alcohol users, the research showed an increased risk of mental illness after divorce. However, the study used limited sample, and when analyzing the results, it is important to consider that those who are low-risk or high-risk alcohol users already have a pre-existing level of risk of developing mental illnesses. Even though the research focused on a specific group, it showed that mental health risks gradually increase after the divorce among those who abuse alcohol.

Emotional Impact

Sharma (125) talks about the connection between emotional and mental health impact of divorce. Focusing the research on women, the author finds that anxiety, depression and self-destruction are more prevalent among divorced women than the rest of the population. Carrying out the research among 50 divorced women in Jaipur, India, aged between 30 and 40, the author used an eight state questionnaire to evaluate participants’ mental and emotional state. The most prevalent emotions and feelings the women reported were: anxiety, depression, guilt and stress. Further, the author found that low self-esteem was also present in the majority of cases. All the above self-reported feelings and conditions indicate the existence of mental health problems. While the self-reports do not replace professional diagnosis, they are relevant to the current research. However, in order to get the hypothesis proven by this study created by Sharma, it would be useful to compare the self-analysis results of divorced women with those who live in a marriage.

Risk of Developing Mental Illnesses

Eisenberg et al. (534) examined correlations of mental illnesses and risk factors among university students. Among financial, family and social information, the authors examined the factors that increase the risk of developing mental illnesses; depression, anxiety, and panic disorder. The research also measured answers regarding the number of suicidal attempts. In a comparison table, they summarized the findings related to mental health disorder predictors. One of these predictors was a divorced or widowed status. The mean score of depression among students in relationship was 0.58, while among widowed or divorced it increased to 1.73. (Eisenberg et al. 539) The risk of anxiety (and panic disorder) associated with widowed or divorced status was even more significant: 2.23 mean score compared with 0.65 among “marrried or domestic partnership” students. Suicidal thoughts were also more prominent among separated and divorced students.

Findings and Reflection

The initial hypothesis stating that there is a relationship between divorced status and the risk of mental illnesses is confirmed by the three studies examined above. All studies agreed that one of the risk factors of developing mental illnesses is divorce, however, Rognmo et al. Added that there is an increased risk immediately before divorce as well among those couples where at least one couple abused alcohol. While the study, focusing on a specific population of alcohol low-or high-risk users has added an insight to the current study, it is too specific and does not provide information on the rest of the population. The study provided us with an insight into how great an extent the risk of suicide, depression and panic disorder can increase among those who abuse alcohol, it would still be useful to carry out a study involving a sample where no indicators of mental illness are present. Alcohol abuse indeed, on its own, is a high risk factor of developing mental illness, therefore, it is likely that a divorce acts as a catalyst in these cases.

Sharma’s study was limited as well, however, it provided information about the feelings, emotional and mental well-being of divorced Indian women. While the findings of the study are confirming the original hypothesis, the research had some serious limitations. Indian women experience divorce in a different way than those in Western civilization. While men would have their support network to help them through emotional strains, women are somewhat excluded from the society. This exclusion of divorced women alone can increase the risk of developing mental disorders and experiencing emotional stress. The other limitation of the study was that it involved self-report instead of a professional mental health assessment. Even though the eight state questionnaire is developed to deliver clear results, the reliability of self-reports is still limited.

Eisenberg’s study clearly confirmed the author’s initial hypothesis and found a strong correlation between divorced or widowed status and mental health issues. The risk of panic attacks and anxiety disorder was more influenced by divorce than depression. While the sample of the study was limited to university students, in order to fully map out the connection between lifestyle, personal relationships and mental health illness risks, the study could be repeated on a larger, more homogenous sample.

Conclusion

The review of related research has confirmed the initial thesis statement of the study, however, it only did so related to specific populations. While it is commonly accepted by researchers and scholars that there is a correlation between mental health illness and divorce, it would be beneficial to compare before, during and after divorce risks of a homogenous sample in order to measure the mean impact of divorce on mental health. It is also suggested that the future research would cover individual problems separately: depression, panic disorder/anxiety and suicidal behavior.

Works Cited

Eisenberg, D., Gollust, S., Golberstein, E., Hafner, J.  “Prevalence and Correlates of Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidality Among University Students”. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 2007, Vol. 77, No. 4, 534–542. 2007. Print.

Rognmo, K., Tovrik, F., Idstad, M., Tambs, K.  “More Mental Health Problems After     Divorce In Couples With High Pre-Divorce Alcohol Consumption Than In Other Divorced Couples: Results From The HUNT Study”. BioMed Central. BMC Public Health 2013, 13:852. 2013. Print.

Sharma, B. “Mental and Emotional Impact of Divorce on Women”. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology. January 2011, Vol. 37, No. 1. 125-131. 2011. Print.