In most marriage vows, couples in Ohio promise to stay together “in sickness and in health.” However, research shows that a spouse getting sick can increase the odds of divorce. Researchers have found that there is a gender difference when it comes to this statistic.
Researchers found that only women’s illness was associated with an increased likelihood of divorce. Several studies have found that women diagnosed with cancer face increased odds of getting divorced. One study of 2,701 couples found that stroke and heart disease increased women’s odds of getting divorced more than cancer or lung disease. This was not true for men.
Other studies have found that men’s health may benefit more from marriage than women’s health. This may be because women are more likely to do more work to support men’s healthy habits. This benefit of marriage for men may disappear when women become seriously ill.
Women may also be more likely to have sources of social support outside their marriage than men. Husbands often rely on their wives as their primary or sole source of social support. Women may find it easier to cope than husbands if their partner falls ill due to these outside sources of support. As more couples steer away from traditional gender roles, statistics regarding illness and divorce risk may also change.
An attorney experienced in divorce litigation may be able to help spouses who are seeking help with separation, divorce, child custody and other family law matters. Many states are no-fault divorce states, which means that a spouse can file for divorce for any reason. Ohio law allows a spouse to file for a no-fault divorce or list grounds for divorce. An attorney may be able to assist clients with the procedural requirements for divorce and help clients fight for child custody in contested divorce cases.