Young adult men more vulnerable to heart breaks: Study

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDJun 10 2010

Dr Ananya Mandal, MD

A new study published in the international Journal of Health and Social Behaviour has shown that a bad or broken relationship affects men more than women contrary to popular belief.

This research conducted by the Wake Forest University in the US showed that while more women show their depression to friends and families, men tend to bottle up the feelings leading to negative health impacts like alcoholism. The study involved 1,000 unmarried 18- to 23-year-olds in Florida. The information for the study was originally gathered for a long-term study of mental health and the transition to adulthood.

Professor Robin Simon, the lead researcher of the study said, “Our paper sheds light on the association between non-marital romantic relationships and emotional well-being among men and women on the threshold of adulthood…Surprisingly, we found young men are more reactive to the quality of ongoing relationships.” A rocky relationship affects a man’s sense of identity and self worth and thus has a more negative impact the study says. The study also showed that men benefited more emotionally from an ongoing romance than women. Professor Simon explained that the basis of the results could be in the simple fact that men confide in less number of people which includes their romantic partner whereas women are more likely to be close with family and friends. She pointed out that there was difference of expression across genders saying, “Women express emotional distress with depression, while men express emotional distress with substance problems.”

Prof Melanie Bartley, a sociology professor from University College London supported these findings saying, “Young women do tend to have wider relationships with friends and family by this time to rely on. Young men don't tend to confide in each other and that can make them feel isolated. Their friendship groups are more competitive than nurturing. They are just as sensitive as women but it's a matter of whether they feel valued.” She went on to explain the change in definition of self worth and identity in both sexes over the years as, “It always used to be that women defined themselves through relationships and men validated themselves through their work. This young male group is having a very tough time now and this could perhaps mark a shift that we have been expecting to happen for the last 20 years.”