Repeat divorces are on an upward trend for a small but rising number of Singaporeans.
The Sunday Times reported that the number of men and women who have been divorced at least twice has quadrupled over a 20-year period. What's more, this trend is expected to continue.
In 2010, 213 men in civil divorces had been divorced before, compared to 59 such men in 1990.
Similarly, 202 women in civil divorces had been divorced before, compared to 53 such men in 1990.
Marital counsellors and divorce lawyers said there are a number of factors behind this rising trend.
Firstly, there is less of a stigma attached to divorce today. Coupled with unrealistic expectations of marriage, and the inability or lack of desire to resolve problems, this can lead to more than one divorce.
A lawyer told The Sunday Times that a less tolerant, more divisive and independent world has led individuals to see themselves as priority and that marriage as a partnership has become more abstract and unrealistic.
Repeat divorces affect all socio-economic group, including corporate high-fliers to the lower-income group. Some men leave their wives for their lovers, but the second marriages fail too.
There are also the romantics who search for the perfect partners, but are repeatedly disappointed.
Another lawyer said there were those who did not try to make their marriages work after encountering problems in their marriages. They then start looking for someone else after living together for a few months.
Counsellors said repeat divorcees usually carry unresolved baggage from one marriage to another, resulting in the same problems cropping up again with their new spouses.
Some also blame their spouses instead of stepping back and examining their own attitudes and actions.
There is, however, a difference between the poor and the better-off.
Needy women rush into marriage for financial support and a father figure for their children.
However, they then discover that their new husbands are also struggling with financial problems.
They are then encumbered by more children when they get divorced for a second or third time. These children also need to adapt to new step-parents.
For men who undergo repeat divorces, they have to support children from multiple marriages and may fall behind in maintenance payments.
However, some have chosen to stay in a trouble second marriage because of their children.
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The Sunday Times reported that the number of men and women who have been divorced at least twice has quadrupled over a 20-year period. What's more, this trend is expected to continue.
In 2010, 213 men in civil divorces had been divorced before, compared to 59 such men in 1990.
Similarly, 202 women in civil divorces had been divorced before, compared to 53 such men in 1990.
Marital counsellors and divorce lawyers said there are a number of factors behind this rising trend.
Firstly, there is less of a stigma attached to divorce today. Coupled with unrealistic expectations of marriage, and the inability or lack of desire to resolve problems, this can lead to more than one divorce.
A lawyer told The Sunday Times that a less tolerant, more divisive and independent world has led individuals to see themselves as priority and that marriage as a partnership has become more abstract and unrealistic.
Repeat divorces affect all socio-economic group, including corporate high-fliers to the lower-income group. Some men leave their wives for their lovers, but the second marriages fail too.
There are also the romantics who search for the perfect partners, but are repeatedly disappointed.
Another lawyer said there were those who did not try to make their marriages work after encountering problems in their marriages. They then start looking for someone else after living together for a few months.
Counsellors said repeat divorcees usually carry unresolved baggage from one marriage to another, resulting in the same problems cropping up again with their new spouses.
Some also blame their spouses instead of stepping back and examining their own attitudes and actions.
There is, however, a difference between the poor and the better-off.
Needy women rush into marriage for financial support and a father figure for their children.
However, they then discover that their new husbands are also struggling with financial problems.
They are then encumbered by more children when they get divorced for a second or third time. These children also need to adapt to new step-parents.
For men who undergo repeat divorces, they have to support children from multiple marriages and may fall behind in maintenance payments.
However, some have chosen to stay in a trouble second marriage because of their children.
[email protected]
