Men, Women Over 40 Start Date Engines Right Away Following Divorce, Hit High Gear After 6 Months, Says Study

CHICAGO - Sept. 10, 2014 - PRLog -- Many men and women over 40 begin dating right away after divorce, but the biggest percentage (29.5%) wait at least six months and up to eighteen months to re-enter the dating marketplace.

Results of the benchmark nationwide “March Forth Dating Again After 40 Relationship Study” co-directed by Rand Deminc indicate 13.4% of those over 40 start dating anywhere from before the judge drops the gavel pronouncing the death of love through moments after being granted a divorce decree. The velocity of renewing dating then ebbs during the first through the sixth months before taking off again in months seven through eighteen.

"Interestingly, slightly more than 30% of the pessimistic, disinterested, unconfident or scared wait more than two years before making the decision to start dating, but a large percentage of those never have another first date,” said Deminc.

Respondents to the study about the social involvement of those 40 to 75 and beyond dating again . . . or considering it . . .  as a result of separation, divorce, becoming widowed or loss of a long term significant other, gravitated to Internet dating sites, social activities and group events, and introductions or fix-ups by family, friends and co-workers as their primary means for finding dates.

“The majority (70%) have met between two and ten people from online sites during their dating tenures while the really aggressive have met more than 100 potential mates from digital dating,” Deminc added.

The study results, used as a backdrop to the stories in Deminc’s book, Tales of the Flipped Ditched & Anxious (www.DitchedAndAnxious.com), are divided by gender as well as by age groupings, 40 to 54, 55 to 64 and 65 and older.

Nearly 75% of the respondents reported they were divorced, 15% widowed and 4% married, but separated.

The book content along with the data combine to debunk the myths that A) there are dating rules, and B) there are no dating secrets.

“Dating today is vastly different than in the past. Sure, there are etiquette, common sense, experience and instinct, but there are new issues, trends and tendencies that need grasping,” said Deminc.

Other survey highlights:

* Women 40 to 54 (23%) followed by women 65-plus (21%) were more anxious to start dating right away through the first three months than women 55 to 64 (16%);

* Women 65-plus (49%) were most apt to wait two years or longer before dating; and

* Of respondents who were married, but separated, 44% started dating right away through the first three months of their separations and 72% within one year. Men were twice as active, with 87% dating within the first year versus 44% of the women. *

Previous data released from the study included:

* 60% of the participants (68% female, 50% male) admitted using the Internet and background checking websites to research dates; and

* 76% of the respondents have used texts, emails or websites to socially communicate.