Remarital Chances, Choices, and Economic Consequences: Issues of Social and Personal Welfare

Authors

Kevin Shafer, Brigham Young University
Todd M. Jensen, Brigham Young University

Keywords

Children, economic well-being, poverty, remarriage, spousal quality

Abstract

Many divorced women experience a significant decline in financial, social, physical, and psychological well-being following a divorce. Using data from the NLSY79 (n= 2,520) we compare welfare recipients, mothers, and impoverished women to less marginalized divorcees on remarriage chances. Furthermore, we look at the kinds of men these women marry by focusing on the employment and education of new spouses. Finally, we address how remarriage and spousal quality (as defined by education and employment) impact economic well-being after divorce. Our results show that remarriage has positive economic effects, but that is dependent upon spousal quality. However, such matches are rare among divorced women with children and in poverty. The implications of our results for social welfare issues are discussed.

Recommended Citation

Shafer, Kevin and Jensen, Todd M. (2013) "Remarital Chances, Choices, and Economic Consequences: Issues of Social and Personal Welfare," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 40: Iss. 2, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.3734
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol40/iss2/6