Marital breakups have consequences that extend beyond the immediate end of cohabitation. Research from the University of Granada has found that these consequences can last for decades, eventually becoming a significant source of vulnerability as people reach old age—especially if they live alone and have little contact with their children or insufficient social support. The study, published in the International Journal of Sociology, was conducted by Juan López Doblas, a professor in the Department of Sociology, and María del Pilar Díaz Conde, a professor in the Department of Social Psychology.