The study, published in the journal Personal Relationships, states that the age difference between partners varies across relationships, with men tending to form relationships with younger partners as a ‘natural’ age gradient and women tending to form relationships with younger partners.’ This study looks at the effects of both biological and social factors on age-related preferences in romantic relationships, suggesting that men display more age-based preferences than women over time.
Studies of romantic dynamics, particularly in later life, often lack an understanding of how age preferences change. While gender differences in partner age preferences have been studied extensively in the past, most studies have emphasised younger groups. However, as life expectancy increases and people experience divorce or widowhood, examining the evolution of these preferences becomes more important.
Previously, it has been established that men tend to seek out partners aged between 20 and 30 (see section below). Still, it has yet to be determined whether these changes persist over time, and some researchers speculate that men prefer younger women as a result of evolutionary reasons, while women focus on financial stability and social status (male and female) when choosing a partner.
They also believe that sociocultural factors, such as changing roles and expectations of care, may play a role in both sexes. The researchers examined a huge international dataset from 2003 to 2020 to determine this relationship and lifelong association.
Researchers at University College Dublin prioritize the nature of close relationships between individuals of different ages in their research lab, as noted by Jaroslav Gottfried. The survey data was obtained from SHARE, an international survey that collects information from individuals aged 50 and older in 28 European countries and Israel.
The study specifically targeted people who were in long-term relationships and excluded those who were not able to determine the date the relationship began. Participants in the final study, which included nearly 36,000 participants with an equal distribution of gender, provided information on their own age, their partner’s age, and the date their relationship began.
Rather than comparing age differences in adult couples, the researchers examined how age preferences influenced partner choice across relationship start and end dates. According to the study, age differences between romantic partners undergo systematic adjustments based on age, with young men preferring to partner with women who are about three years younger.
Women, on the other hand, chose an alternative path. Young women typically date men who are several years older, which is consistent with traditional gender-based age norms.
However, as women age, this inclination changes and by about age 60, they no longer seek older partners and instead form relationships with men of the same age. This finding suggests that women’s preferences are less influenced by traditional norms as they age, possibly due to changes in preferences, social conditions, and the realities of the dating industry.
The results are consistent with both evolutionary and sociocultural thinking: while some argue that men may be attracted to younger men because of fertility, and the relationship between young and old is not fully understood, this is partly true, although some researchers believe this tendency may be linked to age differences, which cannot be explained simply by the fact that age does not give men a higher social status, and younger men prefer to live relatively close to their families, as they see women as having different social preferences, while they do not want to be with those of the same age.
The phenomenon of women being able to maintain a significant part of their lives while men are able to find younger partners is another factor contributing to these trends. As women get older, they may experience a shift in preference to being with younger men.
According to Gottfried, older men are more likely to pursue relationships with younger women, which is a stable trend. However, women show more interest in relationships with younger partners as they age, and this trend is also weaker, with many women finding older partners.
Despite having important data on age-related differences over time, the study has some shortcomings. For example, it only evaluates age differences in long-term relationships rather than ideal partner preferences, meaning the study cannot determine individuals, but rather assess their preferences in hypothetical scenarios.