Second marriages are significantly less likely to end in divorce according to a new report from campaign group the Marriage Foundation.
The report, entitled Second Marriages: Triumph of decision over hope?, analyses figures from the Office for National Statistics to conclude that only 31 per cent of second marriages are destined to end in divorce, compared to a much higher 45 per cent of first marriages.
Harry Benson, the Foundation’s Communications Director, authored the report. He highlighted the greater age and affluence of people making another commitment.
“Second marriages are generally more successful than first marriages because couples who get married for the second time are invariably older than those marrying for the first time.”
Greater age may “act as a proxy” for greater income, the report suggests. “Higher income acts as a buffer against some of the everyday difficulties faced by most couples.”
Differences in a couple’s occupations, ethnic backgrounds, and income can increase a couple’s chances of divorce but these become less important the second time around, he claimed.
Benson added: “Reduced social and family pressure for men who marry the second time around is also a factor in the reduced divorce rate of second marriages.”
He told the Mail:
“The good news is that couples wishing to marry second time round no longer need to be put off by doom-laden statistics. Second marriages generally do OK.’”
