Divorced men are significantly more prosperous than divorced women, but they are more likely to regard themselves as poor four years after a marriage break-up, suggests a study.

The study, headed by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, found the incomes of divorced fathers with kids under the age of 18 shot 24 per cent, adjusted for family size, while divorced mothers'' income rose on average 1.8 per cent.

The researchers observed that women suffered considerable financial penalty for years after divorce, yet many said that they were no worse off than before the split, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Nearly 13 per cent even said that they were better off, possibly, because they had better control over the finances.

And while the fathers reported being more better off than when married, 9.7 per cent cried poor or very poor four years after the divorce, compared with 4 per cent of the mothers.

Matthew Gray, the institute's deputy director, and lead author of the study, said: "They might have more money but many used to have someone doing the cooking and cleaning and organising the social life, and some are alienated and angry because they don't live with their children. And a lot of men really don't want to pay child support."

The paper was due to be presented at the Australian Social Policy conference at the University of NSW.