Love and companionship, reasons for remarriage – University study

On the other hand, the top three reasons cited for not remarrying were religious/social beliefs/values (20.3%), a fear of reprising bad experiences (19.6%), and old age/health (18.9%), the study said.

The study was conducted in association with the National Statistics Office during March, and asked people who were either married or had been married at the time of the last census (2005) whether they would consider remarrying should Malta introduce divorce.

The study determined that over half (67.4%) of the total people asked would not consider remarriage if divorce legislation is introduced in Malta, while less than one fifth (18.1%) would. Of those asked, 14.5% were as yet undecided.

While the study found that gender was not relevant as to whether someone is more likely to remarry or not, age was very much so, seemingly reinforcing the perception that younger generations approach marriage with a more flexible and adaptive frame of mind.

“The younger a person is, the greater the likelihood of considering remarriage,” the study said. While nearly a third (30.2%) of the respondents aged 40 or younger said they would remarry, this rate dropped to 7.3% among persons over 60. “Previously married persons aged 40 or younger are the most likely to consider remarriage (40.9%).”

Higher education was also a determining factor in whether one is likely to remarry or not.

The more highly educated a person is, the more likely it is that they consider remarriage, the study found. “Those who have a pre-primary/primary level of educational attainment are less likely to have answered positively when compared to those with a tertiary level of education (15.6% and 25.5% respectively).”

The link between higher education and the inclination towards remarriage was found across the board between married and previously married couples.

“Over a third (35.3%) of previously married respondents with a high level of education would consider remarriage,” the study found, while “9% of married persons with a low level of education would consider remarriage.”

Similarly, professional achievement is also linked to a greater inclination towards remarriage.

“Respondents in paid employment tend to consider more the possibility of remarriage if divorce legislation is available than those who are economically inactive. Professionals, managers and senior officials (34.4%) are more likely to consider remarriage than respondents in other occupations (22.3%).”

Again, the result “holds true among both married and previously married persons,” as 35.2% of previously married economically active respondents said they would consider remarrying, but only 8.5% of the married economically inactive respondents said the same.

Remarriage and children

The presence of children also greatly inhibits parents’ inclination towards remarriage: “Parents are less likely to consider remarriage than non-parents (16.6% and 38.1% respectively).”

However, those parents with children who were born out of their present extra-marital relationship (and potentially other relationships) were overwhelmingly likely (57.8%) to consider remarrying.

Comparatively, much fewer parents (13.8%) who had children exclusively from within their marriage would consider remarrying, while around one third (31.6%) of parents who had children from other relationships would consider remarriage.

Asked if they would remarry for their children’s sake, almost one third (29.2%) of those parents having one or more children that were born outside marriage, including from their present relationship, said they would.

When asked the same question, only 3.4% of parents whose children were all born within marriage said they would however, and only 8% of parents with children from other relationships said they would consider remarrying in the interest of their child or children.

Marital status

The study also considered the effect of marital status (i.e. whether one is married or separated/annulled) on an individual’s inclination towards remarrying.

Predictably, married respondents were less likely (11.0%) to consider remarriage if divorce legislation is introduced when compared to the previously married respondents (26.2%).

While the gender of the married spouses did not influence their predisposition towards remarrying, the study found that it was a considerable factor in how previously married men and women considered remarriage.

“Among previously married respondents, males are more likely than females to consider remarriage,” the study said. “Indeed, about a third (32.9%) of previously married males answered the question positively when compared to less than a fourth of females (22.5%).”

The study determined that, coming in at 45.8%, “previously married respondents without children are those who would most likely consider remarriage.” Conversely, “married respondents with children are the least likely (9.9%).”