- Women exhibit higher antidepressant usage rates post-divorce or breakups, indicating greater emotional distress .
- Re-partnering shows a brief reduction in antidepressant use for both sexes, with women experiencing a shorter-lasting effect .
- Observational study highlights the need for targeted support to help women cope with the mental health challenges of relationship changes in later life .
Women’s emotional struggles following relationship breakups, particularly in later years, have been highlighted in a recent study analyzing antidepressant usage patterns. Published findings suggest that women tend to experience greater difficulties adjusting to divorce or breakups compared to men, with higher rates of antidepressant use observed among women during and after such events. The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, sheds light on the psychological impact of later-life relationship changes on mental health.
Researchers tracked antidepressant usage among over 200,000 individuals aged 50 to 70 in Finland between 1996 and 2018, focusing on those who experienced divorce, breakups, or bereavement. The study found that while both men and women increased antidepressant use before and immediately after such events, women exhibited consistently higher usage rates. Additionally, the study noted that while re-partnering after a breakup led to a slight reduction in antidepressant use for both sexes, this effect was short-lived for women.
Observational findings suggest that women may face heavier mental health consequences following relationship dissolution due to factors such as decreased household income and loss of social support. While men tended to re-partner more after bereavement or breakup, women’s antidepressant usage remained consistently higher, indicating a need for targeted support and interventions to help women cope with the challenges of relationship changes in later life.
