It’s a Woman’s World: Breakups usually tougher on older women

Ending a romantic relationship is difficult for women at any age, but a new study indicates that women older than 35 are more likely to struggle after a breakup.

The study, led by University of Alabama criminal justice professor Bronwen Lichtenstein, considered the health of women over 35 who recently ended a long-term relationship and revealed several issues these women face.

First, nearly all of these women suffered from depression after a breakup. These emotional and personal issues were often compounded by the lack of a social support system and a lack of reliable health information.

The newly single women also didn’t know where to meet people. In fact, many of these women said that the best meeting spot for the non-20-somethings was the grocery store.

“Young people have places to go to meet one another and that doesn’t exist for a lot of older people — some may be embarrassed to go to church groups for singles, or they may feel that the groups are for younger people,” Lichtenstein said.

Similarly, these women faced anxiety about re-entering the dating scene. After being in long-term relationships, they were often unfamiliar about today’s dating scene, and this lack of knowledge shook their confidence. Women began asking themselves questions like “Am I attractive?” and “What are the rules?”

If you’ve recently ended a relationship, and you find yourself sad or lonely, consider this advice from Lichtenstein.

“Women who are confident and assured of themselves seem to deal with these relationship issues better,” he said. “They may not be in a better place, but they find other things to do and find a satisfying life on their own.”

Finally, get out there. The more you interact with others, the more likely you are to find someone you love, a good friend, or whatever you are looking for.