Second Marriages: Challenges and Risks

Abstract

Paradoxically, although second marriages have a significantly higher divorce rate than first marriages, the couples in functional and stable second marriages take greater pride and report higher satisfaction in their marriage than couples in their first marriage. This article presents an assessment/treatment program for second marriages to help couples “beat the odds” and establish a satisfying, stable marital bond of respect, trust, and intimacy. A case example presents a positive model of learning from the past and taking pride and satisfaction in the second marriage and stepfamily.

Keywords

second marriages marital satisfaction divorce step-parenting marital stability

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