Four in ten divorced Brits suffering 'seasonal stress'
It is supposed to be the season of goodwill, but for many Brits, the Christmas period is more about stress than joy. According to a new poll, more than 40 per cent of divorced or separated Britons find the festive season "very stressful", and 33 per cent claim they "just want the Christmas season to be over as soon as possible".
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Based on a survey of more than 4,000 British adults, the research found that arguments over where the children will enjoy the festivities, competing grandparents, and new partners all played their part in the added anxiety.
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The older generation were particularly struck with seasonal stress, with 50 per cent of divorced over-65s wishing Christmas was over before it had even begun, and four out of ten divorced couples in their 20s and early 30s reported feeling lonely throughout the period.
One in four British women, who had been divorced or separated in the past, said that Christmas "brings back bad memories", and 58 per cent of divorcees between the ages of 18 to 34 found the Xmas arrangements stressful.
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By comparison, only 17 per cent of the general public reported feeling lonely at Christmas, and just 19 per cent had bad memories of the festive season.
Liz Edwards, Chair of Resolution, a body representing 6,500 family law professionals in England and Wales, told the Daily Mail: "It's clear from this poll that couples who have separated or divorced find the festive season significantly more stressful than most other people."
She added: "It's so important - particularly when children are involved - that separating couples find the best long-term solutions, so they can make arrangements together where possible."
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