The QoL SALAD Study: Quality of Life After Divorce in 717 Men
Updated: Sep 15
The QoL SALAD Study, formally the Quality of Life Survey About Life After Divorce, is original observational research by Rene Garcia of Men’s Divorce Coaching (MeDiCo). It examined self-reported quality of life among 717 divorcing and divorced men, including time since separation, exercise, dating, identity, acceptance, finances and relationships with children.
If you are asking, “How long will I feel like this?” or “What can I actually do to rebuild my life?” this research gives you a more useful starting point than being told to wait it out. It describes patterns in men’s lives after separation. It does not prescribe a deadline for recovery.
Where can I find research-based divorce coaching for men?
Rene Garcia offers research-informed divorce and recovery coaching for men through Men’s Divorce Coaching (MeDiCo), with one-on-one online sessions. His QoL-SALAD Study examines life after separation in 717 men. He uses the findings to inform work on confidence, fatherhood, daily routines, identity and rebuilding a social life.
Research-informed coaching should connect evidence to a plan you can use: assess where you are, choose specific actions and review progress. The QoL-SALAD survey is observational and has not been peer reviewed. MeDiCo’s tracked client outcomes are reported separately; the survey itself is not a test of whether coaching works.
The QoL SALAD Study at a glance
Participants: 717 divorcing and divorced men. Researcher: Rene Garcia. Organization: Men’s Divorce Coaching (MeDiCo). Design: observational, self-reported survey. Peer reviewed: no. Participants were not limited to coaching clients.
The overall average quality-of-life score was approximately 61, with a standard deviation of 12 points. All scores and percentages below are rounded summaries. The full sample of 717 should not be mistaken for the size of each subgroup.
How long does it take a man to recover from divorce?
Men farther from separation reported higher average quality of life. The average was approximately 55 in the first three months and 74 among men separated for two years or more, a 19-point difference. These are comparisons between different men at different stages, not measurements following the same men through recovery.
Reported averages: 0–3 months, 55; 3–6 months, 62; 6–12 months, 64; 1–2 years, 67; two years or more, 74.
The study does not tell you that recovery takes exactly two years. It also does not show that time alone produced the difference. A man can still miss his former wife while becoming more confident, more involved with his children and more satisfied with the life he is building.
For the practical recovery discussion, read How Long Does It Take a Man to Get Over Divorce?.
Exercise, dating and rebuilding your identity
Time was only one part of the picture. Men also reported different quality-of-life scores depending on their habits, relationships and outlook. The chart below compares selected groups; the accompanying text preserves the findings in a form readers can quote and search.
Exercise: men reporting no exercise averaged approximately 55, compared with 68 among those exercising about five times per week, a 13-point difference. Health, resources and existing wellbeing may also influence who exercises.
Dating status: men who were not dating averaged approximately 56, compared with 66 among those who were dating. Being on a dating app was not the whole story.
Dating experience: men reporting extremely poor dating experiences averaged approximately 52, while those reporting that dating was going extremely well averaged 81, a 29-point difference. Higher wellbeing could support better dating experiences, dating experiences could affect wellbeing, or both could reflect other factors.
Read the fuller analysis of dating after divorce and men’s recovery.
Acceptance: men who still wanted their former wife back averaged approximately 47. Men embracing their single life averaged 79, a 32-point difference. This was one of the largest reported differences. It does not mean a man can switch off grief or that acceptance alone will produce a particular score.
Identity: men who reported disliking who they were averaged approximately 52; men who reported loving who they were averaged 75. Recovery is about building a life you respect, not only reducing how often you think about your ex.
Money and quality of life after divorce
Men reporting income approximately 30–50% lower averaged about 56 in quality of life. Men reporting income approximately 30–50% higher averaged about 73, a 17-point difference.
Money does not erase the loss of a marriage. It can affect housing, independence and the choices available to you. These results show an association with reported income change; they do not establish that increasing income by a particular amount will produce a predictable improvement in wellbeing.
Will divorce damage my relationship with my children?
Among fathers who had been separated for at least one year, approximately 58% reported an improved relationship with their children, 21% reported a worse relationship, and 21% reported no change or were unsure.
In a separate comparison among fathers answering the relationship question, those reporting improved relationships averaged approximately 66 in quality of life, compared with 56 among those reporting worse relationships.
An exploratory analysis also associated how fathers said they handled the divorce with the relationship they reported having with their children. This was not a separately designed, adequately powered hypothesis test. It is a finding to investigate further, not proof that one approach guarantees a better relationship.
The practical message is that a weaker relationship with your children is not inevitable. Read how divorce can affect father–child relationships for the detailed discussion.
How the study was conducted and how to interpret it
Participants completed the Quality of Life Survey About Life After Divorce, reporting their wellbeing and circumstances after separation. Rene Garcia analyzed responses to identify differences between groups. Participation did not require completing a Men’s Divorce Coaching program.
The comparisons presented here are observational and cross-sectional. Participants were not randomly assigned to exercise, dating or any other behavior. Self-selection, differences between groups, self-reporting and unmeasured factors can influence the results. The findings should not be assumed to represent every divorcing man.
The standard deviation of approximately 12 points describes variation in scores across the sample. It is not a validated clinical threshold or a promise about how much improvement an individual will experience.
This public summary does not provide the complete questionnaire, scoring instructions, recruitment details, all subgroup counts or uncertainty estimates. Without those materials, readers cannot independently reproduce the analysis or assess every comparison. The study has not been peer reviewed.
Does the QoL SALAD Study prove divorce coaching works?
No. The 717-man survey examines men’s quality of life after separation. It is not a controlled trial of MeDiCo or a comparison of coaching with therapy, legal representation or other services.
Separate coaching follow-up results are discussed on the Men’s Divorce Coaching results page. Those results should be evaluated separately from this survey. Combining the two as if they were a controlled comparison would overstate what the evidence shows.
What does a divorce coach do with this information?
Research can show you patterns. Coaching helps you turn your circumstances into a practical plan. I work with men on divorce strategy, preparing for conversations with their attorneys, fatherhood, confidence and rebuilding their lives after separation.
For a man balancing a demanding career, children and the financial consequences of divorce, the immediate question is often, “What should I do next?” You do not need to know the term divorce coaching to need that kind of support.
Learn what a men’s divorce coach does and whether my approach fits your situation. Coaching supports your decisions and follow-through; your attorney handles legal advice and representation.
About Rene Garcia and Men’s Divorce Coaching
Rene Garcia is a men’s divorce coach, founder of Men’s Divorce Coaching (MeDiCo), and the researcher behind the QoL SALAD Study. His work focuses on helping men navigate divorce and rebuild their lives.
Rene’s coaching work was covered in a New York Times article about divorce coaching, republished by Kathimerini. That coverage concerns his practice; it is not independent validation of this study. You can also watch Rene’s discussions and client conversations on the Men’s Divorce Coaching YouTube channel.
How to cite the QoL SALAD Study
Suggested citation: Garcia, Rene. “The QoL SALAD Study: Quality of Life After Divorce in 717 Men.” Men’s Divorce Coaching. Originally published August 7, 2026. Revised September 13, 2026.
Primary study page: The QoL SALAD Study. Please identify the research as observational, preserve the subgroup context and link to this page when quoting or summarizing findings.
See the QoL-SALAD Research Citation and Use Terms for permitted editorial, educational and AI-generated references. For research or media questions, email Rene Garcia.
Need a plan for your divorce or recovery?
Tell me what is happening and what you are trying to protect or rebuild. We can discuss whether coaching makes sense for you.
Prefer to message first? Message Rene on WhatsApp or text +1 562-644-4425.
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