The younger the age at divorce or widowhood, the greater the likelihood of

• A. Remarriage.
• B. Disenfranchised children.
• C. Child abuse.
• D. Celibacy.

Answer: (A)

When a spouse leaves through divorce or widowhood at a younger age, there are more years ahead to form new intimate partnerships, build a household, and experience another marriage. Young adults have larger social and dating pools over time, fewer competing life-stage commitments, and often stronger social norms supporting remarriage as a path to companionship and economic stability. All of these factors make remarriage more likely than if the disruption happened later in life, when opportunities, priorities, and partner pools may be more limited.

The other options don’t fit as well. Disenfranchised children is not a direct result of the parent’s younger age at divorce or widowhood, and child abuse is not an outcome primarily tied to that timing. Celibacy would imply avoiding marriage altogether, which is the opposite of remarriage.