Trying Again: Reuniting After Cohabitation or Marriage Separation

There is growing recognition in family research that relationship dissolution is not always a linear process. This is exemplified by the fact that some couples who separate subsequently reunite. However, empirical evidence on the prevalence and correlates of such reuniting behaviour in the general population remains extremely limited, particularly outside the United States. Using data from a large-scale longitudinal survey, we examine the prevalence and predictors of reuniting following marital or cohabitation separation in Australia. Five years after separation, 7% of previously married couples and 9% of cohabiting couples had reunited, with reunification most common in the early years following separation. Pre-separation relationship satisfaction was the strongest predictor of reuniting, while indicators of relationship investment and socio-demographic characteristics showed weaker and less consistent associations. The study highlights reuniting as a distinct post-separation trajectory that competes with singlehood and repartnering.