Older adults on the dating market: The role of family caregiving responsibilities

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveThis study investigates how family care responsibilities impact older single adults' approach to and experience on the dating market.BackgroundThere is a growing population of single older adults, but very little understanding of their experiencing seeking romantic partners. Prior dating and marriage research has focused primarily on younger adults or single parents seeking remarriage. There is evidence of parenthood negatively impacting the search for a partner, but it is unclear how caregiving responsibilities impact this process for older adults.MethodHere, 100 older adults, 50 men and 50 women ages 60–83, were recruited from online dating websites and interviewed about their experiences seeking romantic partners.ResultsMany men and women postponed dating until carework was complete. Additionally, men found women with care responsibilities less desirable, but women preferred men who were close to their families. Men were only less desirable when women believed the men would increase a woman's carework responsibilities.ConclusionThis study reveals how family caregiving responsibilities have a noticeable and gendered impacted on older adults' experiences with repartnering. This study extends marriage market and marital search theories by highlighting the complicated and influential role of family, particularly family carework responsibilities, in older adults' opportunities and status on the dating and marriage market.