When A Spouse Become Seriously Ill, Men Are More Likely To Seek Divorce

“In sickness and in health” is a mainstay of the traditional marriage vow – but some couples find that when a serious illness strikes, so do financial problems, stress, and family issues. Sometimes, when one spouse needs care and support the most, the other spouse is driven away by the overwhelming feelings and responsibilities that come with illness and serious medical conditions.

A group of researchers recently published a new study in the most recent issue of Cancer that explored just how often serious sickness can lead to divorce. They found that women who are diagnosed with a serious disease like cancer are six times more likely to divorce or separate after the diagnosis than a married man who becomes sick. In fact, the divorce rate for sick women was 21 percent for women, while the divorce rate for sick men was three percent. The control group had a divorce rate of 12 percent.

Why are men more likely to leave during a sickness than women? Some speculate that men are simply less adept at the caregiver role and balk at the idea of losing a partner and instead having to nurse. Others say that men are more likely to be bothered by financial stresses or the possibility of having to stop working to care for their family. Finally, some believe that a lack of emotional support and fear of abandonment have an effect on more men than women.