A Note on Race, Ethnicity, and Nativity Differentials in Remarriage in the United States

Catherine McNamee, University of Texas at Austin
Kelly Raley, University of Texas at Austin

The objectives of this study are to produce up-to-date estimates of race/ethnic/nativity differentials for remarriages and repartnership and to see if these differences are due to across-group differences in demographic characteristics. First, we produce lifetable estimates of remarriage and repartnering for white, black, U.S.-born Latina and foreign-born Latina women. Next, we estimate race/ethnic/nativity differentials for remarriage and repartnership using event-history analysis with and without controls for demographic characteristics. The results suggest a continued overall decline in remarriage rates partly compensated for by increases in cohabitation. Whites are more likely than blacks or Latinas to remarry and they are also more likely repartner. Race/ethnic/nativity differentials remain even after accounting for variations in demographic characteristics. This suggests that race, ethnic, and nativity differentials in remarriage and repartnering rates, rather than ameliorating disadvantages associated with divorce, reinforce these differentials.