Since childhood we have been hearing that love is blind. Movies and real-life love stories have led us to believe that when two people love each other, things like age, height or looks don’t matter. Although it sounds good, the question that often arises in our minds is: does age difference really matter in relationships? And is there a ‘perfect age gap’ for a successful and long-term relationship? Come, let’s discuss this.
Scientific research on age gap
Science has tried to find the answer to this question. Research shows that love can happen at any age, but when it comes to long-term happiness, age differences start to make a difference. A study published in the Journal of Population Economics in 2018 analyzed data from more than 3,000 Australian couples. These couples were tracked for several years to understand how age difference impacts relationship satisfaction.
Research findings
The results of this study were quite interesting. According to the study, as the age difference between partners increases, relationship satisfaction decreases over time. Couples who had a greater age difference also showed more variation in their lifestyle, emotional expectations and future plans. This doesn’t mean that relationships that have a large age difference fail, but it does show that age impacts everyday experiences, whether it’s energy levels, social life, career, or future goals.
What is the right age gap?
So, what is the right age gap according to science? Research shows that the most stable and satisfying relationships occur in couples whose age difference is between zero and three years. There are clear reasons behind this. Such couples are often at similar stages of life, such as careers, marriage, or planning a family. Their interests, thoughts and daily routines are also quite similar, which leads to better compatibility. The study also showed that in relationships where there is a large age difference, satisfaction declines rapidly after six to ten years, especially when the age difference is more than seven years. In such cases, if the man is older, satisfaction is initially higher but decreases rapidly with time. At the same time, women whose husbands were older reported less overall satisfaction. However, this does not mean that relationships that have a large age difference cannot be successful. The figures only reflect trends, not the future of any individual relationship. There are many examples to the contrary in society.
