Researchers from Iowa State University in Ames conducted a study as per which older couples are more likely to face a divorce if wife is ill compared to cases when the husband is unwell.

In the research published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, the researchers have evaluated divorce rate in elderly couples when either of the spouse, wife or husband, was diagnosed with one of the four illnesses- cancer, heart disease, lung disease and stroke.

The researchers came to know when either of the spouses became ill due to any of the above mentioned reasons an increased risk for ending up of their marriage was widowhood. The study was carried out for two decades.

Another startling revelation made by the researchers was that the risk of divorce was even higher when wife fell seriously ill. However, such was not the case when the husband was ill.

Study's lead researcher Amelia Karraker, an assistant professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State, was of the view that their data did not find the reason as to why it happened. But they did notice that illness could affect marriage in many ways.

Amelia said that things can affect in a marriage when the healthy spouse is the main caregiver and also has to take care of supporting the household. Another reason could be quality of care. The researchers affirmed that wives have been found to be less satisfied when they were being cared by their husbands.

The study did not unveil which spouse initiated for the divorce. But as per the researchers, some cases suggest that women might be ending marriages because of dissatisfaction with the care they receive. The researchers said that sickness can make person more vulnerable in the society.