15 July,2026 01:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: File pic
A failed marriage does not mean the end, nor does it stop people from seeking love again. However, it undoubtedly does change how confidently people participate in love again.
Everyone talks about the courage and endurance of divorced and separated individuals who dare to love again, but there are still many hidden challenges that silently affect these people during their journey to a second chance.
Indian matchmaking app for previously married singles, Rebounce, studied 9,384 users to understand these lesser-discussed issues faced by divorced and separated singles.
The app's founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, said, "Our findings suggest that the biggest challenge is not finding love again, but rather the fact that many of the previously married singles have forgotten how to get started, or express affection, or even accept love. Many forgotten what they desired once and how they wanted to be loved; every sign of affection can send them running away because many believe they don't deserve it."
The survey was conducted from April to June 2026, among divorced and separated singles between the ages of 30 and 45, from Tier 1, 2, and 3 Indian cities. Respondents spoke about quiet emotional scars that might not seem dramatic but affect them regularly.
What seems like an issue previously married women are more prone to, "who am I outside the marriage?", topped as one of the hidden but significant challenges faced. Nearly 47 per cent of divorced women above 35 shared that after years of being a spouse, they struggled seeing themselves as an individual, instead of a part of their marriage. Many said they have made all their decisions as "we," instead of "me." Suddenly seeking love a second time did not feel as intimidating as rediscovering their individual hobbies, interests, thought process, and even conversations that did not revolve around their divorce and married life.
The survey said 5,432 participants shared that though they gathered the courage to join a matchmaking app to give love a second chance, they feel quite rusty at romance. 4 out of 10 women shared that they feel shyer to make the first move now than when they were in their 20s. 33 per cent of men from Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities admitted that, whether it is flirting, complimenting their match, or even planning a meetup, they constantly fear falling short and coming off as awkward and emotionally inexperienced. Abhay (33) from Jhansi, said, "It's ironic that someone who has already been in love, was married for three years, feels less confident than someone who just entered the dating world. I guess it's the experience we already have, the consequences we already faced, and the lesson we always keep thinking 'we should have learned' that has this effect."
Over 5,500 previously married singles between 30 and 40 years disclosed that they overexplain themselves.The participants said that even when their match does not judge them or ask about their past, they tend to clarify their part in the divorce because they are so used to being villainized by society for giving up on their marriage. At the same time, they fear that sharing too much about their past might scare away a potential match, while sharing too little might make them seem dishonest. Isha, a single mother from Delhi, said, "It was so exhausting in the beginning when I just started this journey. I would constantly tell all my matches about all that I had to endure and justify my choice to get divorced. Only later did I realise that they were not judging me; I was just conditioned to judge and question myself."
