Study Suggests that Divorced People at Higher Risks of Having Fatal Accidents

 Posted on January 31,2014 in Divorce

A new study has concluded that people who are divorced have a higher risk of being involved in a fatal accident. The study was conducted by researchers from Rice University and the findings were published in Social Science Research.

The researchers studied data collected between 1986 and 2006 of 1.3 million adults living in the U.S. who had survived or died in accidents. What they found was that people who were divorced had double the risk of married people to die in more-preventable accidents. Fire and poisoning were two examples of what researchers deemed as more-preventable.

Both groups, however, had the same amount of risks of dying in less-preventable accidents. Boat and airplane accidents were cited by researchers as examples of less-preventable.

The study also found that adults who had only attained low levels of education were at double the risk of dying in more-preventable accidents than adults who were higher educated. Justin Denney, lead author and professor at the university, explained that people who had higher levels of education were also more likely to have the financial resources to prevent accidental death - such as ensuring a home was safe from fire.

Denney also explained that couples who are married typically watch out for each other, keeping an eye on their spouse's health and safety. Therefore, when potential incidents do occur, they are there to help their partner stay safe.

In 2012, the University of Arizona conducted a review of over 32 studies that had been done over a 27 year period. There were more than 6.5 million adults world-wide who had participated in the studies that researchers looked at. Their conclusion was that divorced adults have a much greater risk of dying earlier than adult who are married. Divorced men were at a much higher risk than divorced women.

These studies don't mean that divorce is bad for your health, but should serve as a reminder that when you are going through or have gone through a divorce, it's important to remember to pay attention to your health. Divorce can be very stressful, especially if it's an acrimonious one. Contact an experienced DuPage County divorce attorney today.