Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T08:06:07.278Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Remarriage after Widowhood: A Marital History Study of Older Canadians

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Zheng Wu
Affiliation:
University of Victoria

Abstract

Using event history data from the 1990 Canadian Family and Friends Survey, this study examines several factors that influence the likelihood of remarriage for women and men whose first marriages ended in widowhood. Our results suggest that large sex differences in remarriage exist, with ever-widowed men having appreciably higher rates than ever-widowed women. Remarriage rates are shown to vary by indicators of lifecycle and by socio-economic status. The implications of these results are discussed.

Résumé

À l'aide des données historiques tirées de l'étude de Statistique Canada sur la famille et les amis de 1990, cette recherche étudie divers facteurs influençant la probabilité de remariage chez les homines et les femmes dont le premier mariage s'est terminé par un veuvage. Les résultats suggèrent qu'il existe d'importantes différences entre les deux sexes lorsqu'il s'agit de se remarier. Le taux de remariage chez les veufs est beaucoup plus élevé que chez les veuves. De plus, le taux de remariage varie selon les indicateurs du cycle de vie et la situation socioéconomique. L'auteur discute des conséquences de ces résultats.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adams, O., & Nagnur, D. (1990). Marrying and Divorcing: A Status Report for Canada. In McKie, G. & Thompson, K. (Eds.), Canadian Social Trends (pp. 142145). Toronto: Thompson Educational.Google Scholar
Allison, P.D. (1984). Event History Analysis: Regression for Longitudinal Event Data. Sage University Paper series on Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences, No. 46. Beverly Hills: Sage.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Balakrishnan, T.R., Burch, T.K., Chen, J., & Rajulton, F. (1990). Union Formation and Dissolution in Canada: A Multistate/Multivariate Analysis of Cohort Experience. Paper presented at the annual meetings of the Population Association of America, Toronto, May.Google Scholar
Balakrishnan, T.R., & Chen, J. (1990). Religiosity, Nuptiality and Reproduction in Canada. The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, 27(3), 316340.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Balakrishnan, T.R., Rao, K.V., Krotki, K.J., & Lapierre-Adamcyk, B. (1988). Parametric Versus Cox's Model: An Illustrative Analysis of Divorce in Canada. Janasamkhya, 6, 1327.Google Scholar
Balakrishnan, T.R., & Wu, Z. (1992). Regional Patterns of Nuptiality and Fertility in Canada: 1921–1986. Genus, 48, 151171.Google Scholar
Beaujot, R.P., & McQuillan, K. (1982). Growth and Dualism. Toronto: Gage.Google Scholar
Becker, G.S. (1981). A Treatise on the Family. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Becker, G. S., Landes, E., & Michael, R. (1977). An Economic Analysis of Marital Instability. Journal of Political Economy, 85, 11411187.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berardo, F.M. (1970). Survivorship and Social Isolation: The Case of the Aged Widowers. The Family Coordinator, 19,1115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bound, J., Duncan, G.J., Laren, D.S., & Oleinick, L. (1991). Poverty Dynamics in Widowhood. Journal of Gerontology, 46, S115124.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bulcroft, K., Bulcroft, R., Hatch, L., & Borgatta, E.F. (1989). Antecedents and Consequences of Remarriage In Later Life. Research on Aging, 11, 82106.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bumpass, L., Sweet, J., & Castro-Martin, T. (1990). Changing Patterns of Remarriage. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 747756.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burch, T.K. (1985). Family History Survey: Preliminary Findings. Catalog #99–995. Ottawa: Statistics Canada.Google Scholar
Burch, T.K. (1990). Remarriage of Older Canadians: Description and Interpretation. Research on Aging, 12, 546559.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chiang, C.L. (1983). The Life Table and Its Applications. Malabar, FL: Robert E. Krieger.Google Scholar
Cleveland, P.W., & Gianturco, D.T. (1976). Remarriage Probability After Widowhood: A Retrospective Method. Journal of Gerontology, 32, 99103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coale, A.J., & Watkins, S.C. (Eds.). (1986). The Decline of Fertility in Europe. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Coleman, D.A. (1989). The Contemporary Pattern of Remarriage in England and Wales. In Grebenik, E., Hohn, C., & Mackensen, R. (Eds.), Later Phases of The Family Cycle (pp. 82119). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Cox, D.R. (1972). Regression Models and Life Tables (with Discussion). Journal of The Royal Statistical Society Series, B34,187220.Google Scholar
Duncan, G.J. (1984). Years of Poverty, Years of Plenty. Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research.Google Scholar
Fischer, C.S., & Phillips, S.L. (1982). Who Is Alone? Social Characteristics of People with Small Networks. In Peplau, L.A. & Perlman, D. (Eds.), Loneliness: A Sourcebook of Current Theory, Research and Therapy (pp. 2139). New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Fox, J. (1984). Linear Statistical Models & Related Methods. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Gentry, M., Rosenman, L., & Schulman, A.D. (1987). Widowhood and Remarriage. In Lopata, H.Z. (Ed.), Widows: North America (Vol. 2, pp. 158170). Durham, NC: Duke University Press.Google Scholar
Halli, S.S., & Rao, K.V. (1992). Advanced Techniques of Population Analysis. New York: Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heyman, D.K., & Gianturco, D.T. (1973). Long-term Adaptation by the Elderly to Bereavement. Journal of Gerontology, 28, 359362.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Holden, K.C., Burkhauser, R.V., & Myers, D.A. (1986). Income Transition at Older Stages of Life: The Dynamics of Poverty. The Gerontologist, 26, 292297.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hurd, M.D., & Wise, D.A. (1989). The Wealth and Poverty of Widows: Assets Before and After the Husbands's Death. In Wise, D.A. (Ed.), The Economics of Aging (pp. 177200). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Hutchens, R.M. (1979). Welfare, Remarriage, and Marital Search. The American Economic Review, 69, 369379.Google Scholar
Kalbfleisch, J.D., & Prentice, R. L. (1980). Analysis of Failure Time Data. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Kephart, W.M. (1981). The Family, Society, and the Individual (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.Google Scholar
Koo, H.P., & Suchindran, C.M. (1980). Effects of Children on Women's Remarriage Prospects. Journal of Family Issues, 1, 497515.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koo, H.P., Suchindran, C.M., & Griffith, J.D. (1984). The Effects of Children on Divorce and Re-marriage: A Multivariate Analysis of Life Table Probabilities. Population Studies, 38, 451471.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kuzel, P., & Krishnan, P. (1973). Changing Patterns of Remarriage in Canada: 1961–66. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 4, 215224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, E., & Desu, M. (1972). A Computer Program for Comparing k Samples with Right-censored Data. Computer Programs in Biomedicine, 2(31), 1521.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lichter, D.T., McLaughlin, D.K., Kephart, G., & Landry, D.J. (1992). Race and the Retreat From Marriage: A Shortage of Marriageable Men? American Sociological Review, 57, 781799.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lin, N., & Ensel, W.M. (1989). The Stress and Health: Stressors and Resources. American Sociological Review, 54, 382399.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Long, J.S., Allison, P.D., & McGinnis, R. (1993). Rank Advancement in Academic Careers: Sex Differences and the Effects of Productivity. American Sociological Review, 58, 703722.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lopata, H.Z. (1973). Widowhood in an American City. Cambridge, MA: Schenkman.Google Scholar
Lopata, H.Z. (1980). The Widowed Family Member. In Datan, N. & Lohmann, N. (Eds.), Transitions of Aging (pp. 93118). New York: Academic Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lopata, H.Z., & Brehm, H.P. (1986). Widow and Dependent Wives: From Social Problem to Federal Program. New York: Praeger.Google Scholar
Michael, R., & Tuma, N. (1985). Entry into Marriage and Parenthood by Young Men and Women: The Influence of Family Background. Demography, 22, 515544.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Namboodiri, K.N., & Suchindran, C.M. (1987). Life Table Techniques and Their Applications. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Norton, A.J., & Miller, L.F. (1990). Remarriage Among Women in the United States: 1985. In Studies in Household and Family Formation (pp. 1–9). The U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, series P-23, No. 169.Google Scholar
Nye, F.I. (1978). Is Choice and Exchange Theory the Key? Journal of Marriage and the Family, 40, 219233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oppenheimer, V.K. (1988). A Theory of Marriage Timing. American Journal of Sociology, 94, 563591.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearlin, L.I., Menaghan, E.G., Lieberman, M.A., & Mullan, J.T. (1981) The Stress Process. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 22, 337356.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Radloff, L. (1975). Sex Differences in Depression: The Effects of Occupation and Marital Status. Sex Roles, 1, 249265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rajulton, F., & Burch, T. (1991). A Behavioral Model of Remarriage: Motivation and Market Influences. Discussion Paper, No. 91–8, Population Studies Center, the University of Western Ontario, London, ON.Google Scholar
Smith, K.R., Zick, C.D., & Duncan, G.J. (1991). Remarriage Patterns Among Recent Widows and Widowers. Demography, 28(3), 361374.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smock, P.J. (1990). Remarriage Patterns of Black and White Women: Reassessing the Role of Educational Attainment. Demography, 27, 467473.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Statistics Canada. (1988). Marrying and Divorcing: A Status Report. Catalogue 89–517E. Ottawa: Health Division, Statistics Canada.Google Scholar
Stroebe, M.S., & Stroebe, W. (1983). Who Suffers More? Sex Differences in Health Risks of the Widowed. Psychological Bulletin, 93, 279301.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stroebe, W., & Stroebe, M.S. (1987). The Psychological and Physical Consequences of Partner Loss. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Trussell, J., & Richards, T. (1985). Correcting for Unmeasured Heterogeneity in Hazard Models Using the Heckman-Singer Procedure. In Tuma, N. (Ed.), Sociological Methodology (pp. 242276). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Tuma, N., & Hannan, M. (1984). Social Dynamics: Models and Methods. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Uhlenberg, P. (1989). Remarriage: A Life-cycle Perspective. In Grebenik, E., Hohn, C., & Mackensen, R. (Eds.), Later Phases of The Family Cycle (pp. 6682). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Uhlenberg, P., & Chew, K.S.Y. (1986). The Changing Place of Remarriage in the Life Course. In Blau, Z.S. (Ed.), Current Perspective on Aging and the Life Course. (Vol. 2, pp. 2352). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.Google Scholar
Vinick, B. (1978). Remarriage in Old Age. The Family Coordinator. October, 359–363.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waite, L.J., Goldscheider, F.K., & Witsberger, C. (1986). Nonfamily Living and the Erosion of Traditional Family Orientations Among Young Adults. American Sociological Review, 51, 541554.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wise, D.A. (1989). Overview. In Wise, D.A. (Ed.), The Economics of Aging (pp. 17). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Wolf, W.C., & MacDonald, M.M. (1979). The Earnings of Men and Remarriage. Demography, 16, 389399.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wunsch, G.J., & Termote, M.G. (1978). Introduction to Demographic Analysis: Principles and Methods. New York: Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zick, C.D., & Smith, K.R. (1988). Recent Widowhood, Remarriage, and Changes in Economic Well-being. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50, 233244.CrossRefGoogle Scholar