New research from the UK has show that over a five year period, the number of heterosexual couples getting married over the age of 65 has grown by more than 50 per cent.
According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in the country, the marriage rate for 65+ women increased by 56 per cent between 2009 and 2014.
And whereas marriage for other age groups seems to be on the decline, this statistic bucked the trend. The reason? Fear of loneliness in old age.
Dr Kate Davidson from the University of Surrey has conducted dozens of interviews with older people about late life relationships.
She said: “Most of the marriages will be remarriages from divorces. It’s the greater availability of women who are willing to take a second chance. Men have always been willing to take a second chance. Women can be attracted by the ideas of security, emotional, financial and public.
“The women I talked to wanted someone to go out with as they didn’t feel they could go out on their own whereas the men want someone to come home to. It’s a win-win if you find the right person.”
But it wasn’t all just for security, Dr Davidson said it was also about romance.
“One of the things that came across in the interviews is how surprised the older men and women are that they feel like they do for someone else,” she said.
Apparently what they kept saying was that they never expected to feel this way about another person again, that they get butterflies, and that they’re always on their mind.
In contrast, all age groups below 35 showed a decrease in marriage rates.
Nicola Haines from the ONS added that the increase in rates might be due to people living longer. As a result people are living full, happy lives well into their 60s, 70s and 80s, and are open to a new relationship after perhaps an earlier marriage failed.
