Is this the ideal age gap for a successful relationship?
Couples least likely to split up had an age gap of this much
PHOTO:FILE
Most people are still traditional in their views on age gaps in relationships. We’ve heard countless friends say they like someone but are wary because this person is two years younger than them. Equally, some of us get a bit grossed out if we hear about an older man dating a young woman.
It's not really legit if they're both consenting adults, but it's hard to shake off those old stereotypes of women who date older men as 'gold diggers' or as having ‘daddy issues’, reported Cosmopolitan.
Science seems set on putting a number on the 'ideal age gap', and this new study claims to have found exactly what difference in age will make for a lasting, and successful relationship. Good Housekeeping reports that Emory University in Atlanta researchers studied 3,000 couples and found couples with a five-year age gap were 18% more likely to break up than those who were the same age.
Teenage boy emasculated, blinded for 'having relationship with girl'
So the couples who were least likely to split up (just a 3% chance) had an age gap of one year – meaning according to science, this is the 'ideal'. As fun as that must have been to work out, we should probably take it with a giant spoonful of salt. We all know what makes and breaks relationships is the human beings in them, and whether there's two years' difference between them, or 20, surely it matters more whether they're a genuinely good, loving person.
Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.
It's not really legit if they're both consenting adults, but it's hard to shake off those old stereotypes of women who date older men as 'gold diggers' or as having ‘daddy issues’, reported Cosmopolitan.
Science seems set on putting a number on the 'ideal age gap', and this new study claims to have found exactly what difference in age will make for a lasting, and successful relationship. Good Housekeeping reports that Emory University in Atlanta researchers studied 3,000 couples and found couples with a five-year age gap were 18% more likely to break up than those who were the same age.
Teenage boy emasculated, blinded for 'having relationship with girl'
So the couples who were least likely to split up (just a 3% chance) had an age gap of one year – meaning according to science, this is the 'ideal'. As fun as that must have been to work out, we should probably take it with a giant spoonful of salt. We all know what makes and breaks relationships is the human beings in them, and whether there's two years' difference between them, or 20, surely it matters more whether they're a genuinely good, loving person.
Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.