Having a brother or sister who has gone through a divorce may stop us splitting from our own spouse even if we are unhappy, a study suggests.

Academics from the University of Antwerp, who studied 67,000 partnered individuals and their siblings over 20 years, found our propensity to separate was lower after watching a brother or sister go through a split.

The effects were particularly ­pronounced among siblings belonging to the same partnership type – married or co-habiting – and when they were close in age.

Researchers, whose findings were published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, said: ‘A ­sibling’s break-up might have a protective impact on one’s relationship status and duration.’

One of the reasons may be that seeing the negative consequences of a split can make people think twice about ending their own relationships. 

Researchers found  people are less likely to split after seeing a sibling go through divorce (File)

The academics said: ‘When individuals receive information about the divorce or ?????? separation experience of someone close to them, such as a sibling, it may significantly impact on their considerations regarding partnership dissolution.

‘By witnessing first-hand the emotional turmoil, financial strain, and social disruptions often accompanying a ­marriage or long-term relationship dissolution, individuals may become more cautious about pursuing a similar path and the trade-offs involved in ending a relationship.’

…and garlic boosts a man’s love life – if anyone will get close enough!

It’s been used to ward off vampires and was eaten by the Romans and Ancient Greeks to give them strength.

In France it is a staple of the cuisine, the so-called land of lovers, which may support a discovery that garlic gives a significant boost to a man’s love life. It may even be a new way to treat impotence.

Twenty men with erectile dysfunction had a 50 per cent improvement in symptom scores after they chewed or drank juice from two cloves of garlic a day for ?????? a month, a study reveals. 

File. Garlic could be the key to a happy love life, reducing erectile dysfunction substantially

The improvement was nearly five times that seen in a group of 20 men given a Viagra-like drug but no garlic.

Garlic works by increasing levels of hydrogen sulphide which widen blood vessels increasing blood flow to essential areas, said urologists from the Kadave Institute of Medical Sciences in India. 

Researchers feared the men would quit the trial but mouthwash saved the day.