Studies have recently been carried out into the mental health of divorced women and the results recently published. The findings were taken from three differing groups of people with startling similarities in the results despite diverse original circumstances. This was an observational study carried out in three phases over a period of three years.



Experiment A took a look at the divorcees under the age of twenty five. In general, these women were at the lower end of the income scale but money was not thought to have any bearing as all groups from experiment A to experiment C were of mixed income levels.

The first group to be studied threw up results that were quite shocking and a true marker of today's morality and a gauge of society in general. The mental health of this group was measured when they first reported problems in their marriages. It remained steady despite a difficult period in a relationship and actually became stronger once divorce proceedings were under way. This goes to prove that women have hardened over time and have to be the more emotionally stable part of a relationship.

Experiment B looked at individual women who had experienced problems during their thirties. It became apparent that children were beginning to find their own feet and a mother was feeling less depended upon and more in a position to establish a life of her own.

Although it was discussed with these women that they could re-establish their marriage on different grounds most decided that it wasn't worth the bother and that they quite relished the thought that they could have the bed to themselves, wear big knickers when they wanted and not have to shave their armpits for a fortnight at a time.

These last three things were the largest markers in this experimental group that seemed to bring the most satisfaction, rated at nine out of ten compared to chocolate that rated ten out of ten and renewing their relationships scoring a pitiable one out of ten.

Experiment C was a slightly more difficult group to ascertain. This was the control group of women in their late forties. Women from experiment C had come from a background where you got to a certain age, got married and had kids. That was what was expected of you and any diversion was frowned upon.

So, experiment C subjects dutifully found themselves a husband, had 2.4 children, cooked, cleaned and took Valium for the things that were missing in their lives. These things consisted of the minor choices in life like, what to watch on TV, what nights to perform their conjugal duties and what colour to paint the lounge.

Although the women from experiment C began life in much the same way as the others they were less than happy with their lot and the incidence of poor mental health supported by a barrage of prescription drugs were high. However, divorce was the pivotal point that this all changed.

Studies showed that within a year of divorce, these women had ditched the Valium, learnt to put spiders out by themselves, joined a gym and lost the polyester A line skirts in favour of boot flare jeans and a new found smile that showed as a delirious grin after the consumption of large quantities of red wine.