Temporal Differences in Remarriage Timing: Comparing Divorce and Widowhood

Abstract

This article examines the tempo of remarriage among individuals whose first marriages ended in divorce and individuals whose first marriages ended in spousal death. Drawing on event-history models, the results suggest that divorced individuals remarry quicker than individuals whose first marriage ended in spousal death. Interestingly, results also indicate that this relationship is moderated by both gender and parity, suggesting that demographic and life course factors can impede or encourage postmarital union formation.

Keywords:

• divorce
• event-history models
• remarriage
• widowhood

Acknowledgments

The first author wishes to acknowledge support to the Pennsylvania State University Population Research Institute by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Family Demography Training Grant (No. T-32HD007514).

Notes

¹Note that this is not technically necessary, as such variables would only influence the baseline hazard rate, which Cox models leave undefined. Thus, technically speaking, a Cox model need only control for variables associated with both the dependent and independent variables, because all others variables cannot, by definition, influence the estimates obtained.