Divorce and Remarriage Gero 408

Divorce The current risk of divorce by the 30th wedding anniversary is 38% for Canadians. The % of divorces which are redivorces is 16%. On average marriages which end in divorce in recent stats have lasted 14 years. People will enter old age with marital histories with one or more divorces Transitions: Divorce is a process not an event. Older individuals may have less incentive to divorce. Read page 119

Objective Situations Financial impact is greater for women Women who divorce in their 50’s are more likely to work and retire later than widowed or married persons. Women are more likely to initiate a divorce, however equal dependence makes couples confident they can survive on their own. Read page 121. Those who divorce after at least 19 years of marriage-women see children as primary support whereas men see friends and parents.

Transitions See page 123 re dissolution of same sex relationships Options for intimacy in middle and later life are several: Remarriage-Since 1970 remarriage following divorce has declined and cohabiting has increased. Men are 5 times more likely to remarry. Women have less choice due to available males often being scarce, in poorer health, reduced mobility and poorer financial situations. Older widows are often reluctant to remarry and give up their independence.

Transitions Those who remarry happily in later life often negotiated power, resources, and household responsibilities leading to a more balanced relationship. Cohabitation-Six types-marginal, prelude to marriage, stage in marriage process, alternative to being single, alternative to marriage, similar to marriage with parallel privileges. Amongst the old, cohabitation is entered into for its own sake Read pages

LAT An intimate relationship in which both members continue to live in one person households and on occasion share households with one another. This is a consensual union and has features of marriage and cohabitation. It is often publicly acknowledged and is sexually active. It depends on mutual satisfaction rather than structured bonds. Boundaries are well negotiated. It is class based due to the fact of being able to maintain two households.

Dating and Companions Dating declines with age and yet may be a source of intimacy in its own right. There is a dislike for a lot of baggage and possible intimacy is also intimidating, along with revealing aging bodies. Sexual intimacy-less than 1% of women and 6% of men over 60 have intercourse once a week or more if they do not have regular partners. There is a difficulty in addressing the connections between sex, love and commitment. Read summary page