Article "Age Gaps in Relationships: What Do Men and Women Prefer?"
Article "Age Gaps in Relationships: What Do Men and Women Prefer?"
komorebi
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” – Audre Lorde
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” – Audre Lorde
134
Jan 13 2025, 7:27 PM
Quote:A new study focused on age gaps in relationships.
Researchers analyzed data from 35,996 couples collected across 28 European countries and Israel.
The older people get, the more they prefer to have a younger partner if they start a new relationship.
This effect is stronger in men than in women.
(Emphasis added by me.) This is a major understatement—here's the actual data. For men:
Quote:
- Own age 25 years: Partner age 22 years (age gap: 3 years)
- Own age 30 years: Partner age 26 years (age gap: 4 years)
- Own age 40 years: Partner age 34 years (age gap: 6 years)
- Own age 50 years: Partner age 42 years (age gap: 8 years)
- Own age 60 years: Partner age 50 years (age gap: 10 years)
- Own age 70 years: Partner age 58 years (age gap: 12 years)
- Own age 80 years: Partner age 66 years (age gap: 14 years)
And for women:
Quote:Own age 25 years: Partner age 28 years (age gap: -3 years)
Own age 30 years: Partner age 32.5 years (age gap: -2.5 years)
Own age 40 years: Partner age 41.5 years (age gap: -1.5 years)
Own age 50 years: Partner age 50.5 years (age gap: -0.5 years)
Own age 60 years: Partner age 59.5 years (age gap: 0.5 years)
Own age 70 years: Partner age 68.5 years (age gap: 1.5 years)
Own age 80 years: Partner age 77.5 years (age gap: 2.5 years)
By the time men reach the age of 60, on average they prefer a partner TEN YEARS younger than them. In contrast, women at the age of 60 prefer a partner who's...59.5 years old. Can you even call that an age gap? 🙄
My favorite part is the conclusion, which I think counts as its own separate instance of everyday sexism:
Quote:The older people get, the more they prefer to have a younger partner as they start a new relationship. This is true for both genders, but the statistical difference between men and women is significant, showing that the effect is stronger in men than in women.
My guy, there's a huge difference between preferring a partner a couple of years younger than you and preferring a partner that is a decade and a half younger than you. Not to mention that it takes women until well into their life before they start to prefer younger partners, whereas men at any age always prefer younger women.
Psychology Today, January 12, 2025.
Quote:A new study focused on age gaps in relationships.
Researchers analyzed data from 35,996 couples collected across 28 European countries and Israel.
The older people get, the more they prefer to have a younger partner if they start a new relationship.
This effect is stronger in men than in women.
(Emphasis added by me.) This is a major understatement—here's the actual data. For men:
Quote:
- Own age 25 years: Partner age 22 years (age gap: 3 years)
- Own age 30 years: Partner age 26 years (age gap: 4 years)
- Own age 40 years: Partner age 34 years (age gap: 6 years)
- Own age 50 years: Partner age 42 years (age gap: 8 years)
- Own age 60 years: Partner age 50 years (age gap: 10 years)
- Own age 70 years: Partner age 58 years (age gap: 12 years)
- Own age 80 years: Partner age 66 years (age gap: 14 years)
And for women:
Quote:Own age 25 years: Partner age 28 years (age gap: -3 years)
Own age 30 years: Partner age 32.5 years (age gap: -2.5 years)
Own age 40 years: Partner age 41.5 years (age gap: -1.5 years)
Own age 50 years: Partner age 50.5 years (age gap: -0.5 years)
Own age 60 years: Partner age 59.5 years (age gap: 0.5 years)
Own age 70 years: Partner age 68.5 years (age gap: 1.5 years)
Own age 80 years: Partner age 77.5 years (age gap: 2.5 years)
By the time men reach the age of 60, on average they prefer a partner TEN YEARS younger than them. In contrast, women at the age of 60 prefer a partner who's...59.5 years old. Can you even call that an age gap? 🙄
My favorite part is the conclusion, which I think counts as its own separate instance of everyday sexism:
Quote:The older people get, the more they prefer to have a younger partner as they start a new relationship. This is true for both genders, but the statistical difference between men and women is significant, showing that the effect is stronger in men than in women.
My guy, there's a huge difference between preferring a partner a couple of years younger than you and preferring a partner that is a decade and a half younger than you. Not to mention that it takes women until well into their life before they start to prefer younger partners, whereas men at any age always prefer younger women.
