Long recovery period after love sours

Even seven years after separating, the emotional wellbeing of men and women in has not fully recovered.

While separation is an emotional long road for both genders, the financial road after splitting up is harder for women.

Even seven years after separating, the emotional wellbeing of men and women in Australia has not recovered to anywhere near the levels of those who remain in a relationship.

The financial hit of separation affects Australian women significantly more than men, as they suffer an immediate financial downturn in the year after separation, while data shows no similar effect for men.

A new study of the emotional and financial impact of relationship breakdown reveals men and women who separate are not as satisfied with their lives as those in a relationship for years in the lead-up to leaving, but the ­moment of separation hits them particularly hard.

“Our data shows that in Australia, even after seven years of separation, men and women aren’t close to the life satisfaction levels of those who haven’t separated,” report co-author and senior research fellow at the Australian Institute of Family Studies Lixia Qu said. “It takes those separating around four years after the moment of separation just to return to the life ­satisfaction levels they were at a year or two before separating.

“Some people may have difficulty adjusting to post-separation life, and some may have ongoing issues that could contribute to the separation in the first place.

“More than half of our separated samples had children aged 15 years or younger at separation. Our research has shown while most parents were able to maintain a co-operative relationship with each other, for some there was conflict. Some of these ­people may re-partner and have a stepfamily, which can bring happiness as well as challenges.”

The findings, to be presented on Wednesday to the Australian Social Policy Conference, reveal that while separation is an emotional long road for both genders, the financial road after splitting up is harder for women.

“It’s a long journey back financially for women, especially those with children,” Dr Qu said.

“Some may now have to support children with one income. Many women with children work part-time. And women earn less compared to men overall.

“This doesn't mean all separated men are unaffected fin­ancially … Some men do experience financial difficulty after separation.”