Divorce and living alone could lead to ill health and death for middle-aged men.
Those who live alone for more than seven years, and see at least two of their relationships end, have higher levels of inflammation in their body.
This biological response to stress is linked to dying earlier, hardened arteries, heart attacks, strokes, cancer and dementia. A study of more than 4,800 people aged 48 to 62, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, tracked their divorces and break-ups and how long they spent living alone between 1986 and 2011.
Women who experienced multiple relationship breakdowns, or spent a long time living alone, saw no increase in inflammation.
This may be because middle-aged women, compared with men of the same age, typically have larger friendship groups offering more emotional support, which helps prevent stress from affecting their health.
Men, who may live more unhealthily after divorce, had 17 per cent higher levels of two chemicals in their blood which indicate inflammation – interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein – than those who were in a steady relationship.
Divorce and living alone could lead to ill health and death for middle-aged men (stock image)
Professor Rikke Lund, senior author of the study, from the University of Copenhagen, said: 'Evidence shows that men tend to depend more on their female partners than the other way around, so are more vulnerable if they lose them.
'Men of the age we looked at tend to have smaller social networks than women, so are at a higher risk of loneliness, which might increase inflammation.
'There is also evidence that men living alone may not look after themselves as well, and are more reluctant to consult a doctor for medical problems.
'This could explain the increased levels of inflammation in men following multiple break-ups and more years living alone.'
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