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According to a new study by scientists at Humboldt University of Berlin, men experience a breakup more painfully than women due to deeper emotional attachment and a lack of social support.
The traditional belief that women have a harder time dealing with breakups has been challenged by an analysis of over 50 scientific papers. Men are less likely to initiate breakups, are more dependent on their partners for emotional needs, and experience greater levels of loneliness after a relationship ends. “Heterosexual men are more dependent on partners to meet their emotional needs”, – notes the lead author of the study, Iris Waring.
The reasons for such emotional vulnerability of men lie largely in social norms. Women are accustomed from childhood to openly expressing their feelings and receive support from friends and relatives, while men are more likely to remain in “emotional isolation”.
Scientists have also found that men are more focused on stable relationships, and their psychological and physical health depends to a large extent on the presence of a partner. Moreover, men's life expectancy is more often “associated with the presence of stable relationships”than women. This explains why marriage and long-term partnerships bring more benefits to men.
To reduce the negative effects of breakups, researchers emphasize the need for changes in gender roles. Openness to expressing emotions, developing social connections, and receiving support from others can help men better cope with emotional difficulties. “If men can openly express emotions and seek support, their need for intimacy and care will be met”, the study concludes. Breaking down stereotypes about male emotional restraint will contribute to better psychological well-being for men and help them cope with relationship breakups more easily.
