Consequences of the Transition to Remarriage for Psychological Well-Being: Toward an Explanation of Gender and Life Course Variations

Kristi Williams, Ohio State University

The increase in divorce rates over the past several decades has been accompanied by the emergence of remarriage as a dominant family form. Despite overwhelming evidence of the positive consequences of marriage for mental health, it is unclear whether remarriage offers similar benefits. The present analysis of data from a nationally representative longitudinal survey (NSFH) indicates that the consequences of the transition to remarriage for psychological well-being are highly dependent upon gender and life course stage. Remarriage is associated with improved psychological well-being for men of all ages. The consequences of remarriage for women, however, vary across the life course, with benefits observed only at mid-life and older. These patterns appear to partly reflect life course differences among women in the benefits of remarriage for economic well-being and for the quality of reconstituted family relationships. In each of these domains, remarriage offers greater benefits to older compared to younger women.

Presented in Poster Session 2: Fertility and Family