Survey Finds 68% Of Previously Married Singles Hesitate To Match With Never-Married Partners

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Starting over in love after a divorce or the loss of a spouse can bring a different set of expectations. While meeting someone new may not be the biggest challenge, finding a person who understands your past and is ready to build a future with you can be more complicated. But would you consider marrying someone who has never been married before? For many previously married singles, this question comes with some hesitation.

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A study conducted by Rebounce, an Indian matrimony and matchmaking app for divorced and widowed individuals, found that 68% of previously married singles are hesitant to match with never-married individuals. The findings suggest that the concern is not simply about relationship status but also about whether two people with different marital experiences can understand each other.

The survey covered 11,000 previously married and never-married singles aged between 28 and 45 from metro and suburban regions, representing different professional backgrounds.

When Past Experiences Become A Concern

Marriage brings experiences that can shape how a person approaches relationships in the future. From navigating family expectations and trying to make things work to difficult conversations, separation and rebuilding life, previously married individuals carry experiences that someone who has never been married may not fully understand.

The survey found that 55% of respondents realised that love alone cannot sustain a marriage. Additionally, 3 in 10 participants were co-parenting their children with their former partners.

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For nearly 48% of divorced and widowed respondents, the primary reason for hesitating to match with never-married singles was the fear of being judged for their past.

Sharing his observations, Rebounce Founder and CEO Ravi Mittal said, "Second chances for divorced singles mean something much more than just finding someone new; they want someone who can accept that they have already lived and experienced marriage in a certain way, and they still want to build a future even after that marriage fell apart.

From our study, we got the idea that previously married singles are a bit more wary about connecting with someone who's never married, but when it is the other way, the never-married singles are much more enthusiastic about a match such as that."

Nikita, 32, also shared her concerns: "My biggest fear is if my never-married partner compares our marriage with his imagined version of marriage or expects me to come with zero emotional complications from my last marriage. I won't be able to hold up to his standards."

Can Different Relationship Histories Lead To A Happy Marriage?

Not everyone shares these reservations. Around 32% of previously married men and women were open to connecting with never-married singles, suggesting that a shared marital history is not essential for building a healthy relationship.

Among them, 3,423 divorced women felt that someone who had never been married could bring a fresher and more positive perspective to the relationship. They believed this openness could be valuable, particularly for individuals who may have lost some of their optimism following a separation.

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The survey also found that 23% of users who had experienced such matches felt they had better boundaries and communication, allowing them to address issues before they developed into bigger problems.

The Milestones Some Couples Want To Experience Together

The hesitation also exists on the other side. Around 18% of never-married singles who were reluctant to date someone previously married said they did not want to miss out on experiencing important milestones together for the first time.

These included:

• Planning a wedding.
• Becoming spouses.
• Building a home from scratch.
• Experiencing parenthood together for the first time.

The survey found that 6,855 divorced men and women acknowledged that these expectations were not unreasonable. Meanwhile, 41% of previously married respondents were open to marrying someone who had never been married, although they recognised that differences in expectations could sometimes create friction.

Building A Future Without Judging The Past

A second chance at love does not necessarily mean finding someone with an identical relationship history. However, it does require both individuals to understand what the other person brings into the relationship. Whether it is previous marital experiences, children, different expectations or the desire to experience certain milestones together, these conversations are important.

Ultimately, a person's past should not become a reason to question their ability to build a fulfilling relationship. Honest communication, mutual respect and realistic expectations can help couples with different experiences find common ground and create a future together.