According to a new study by dating site, www.fifties.com, 17 months and 26 days is about the average length of time a broken heart starts to heal.

The study polled 4000 divorcees and found that whilst just over 43% were relieved their marriage was over, a significant 31% were sad their relationship was finished.

Sixty percent said the feeling of failure was the most difficult thing to accept, whilst 20% said the initial feeling of loss more difficult to deal with that the practicalities of their divorce.

Scarily, a further 20% said they didn’t think they would ever recover from their divorce. But then, more than half (55%) said their divorce was the worst thing they had ever gone through and a further 16% said they still felt distraught.

On a brighter note, the average divorcee will start to feel happier with their life again after 16 months and 11 days after their split.

However, only two thirds of people go on to have a serious relationship after their divorce.

The research also found that meeting people via friends was the most popular way of finding a date, followed by dating sites.

More than one in five have also gone to singles nights in the hope of meeting someone new, with 28% resorting to online dating.

How long has it taken you to get over a broken heart?