For some the gap is even larger – data suggests that around 1% of heterosexual couples in the US have an age difference of 28 years or more.
Relationships with a big age gap can work if you're willing to put the effort in. There are times when they can seem more difficult because of generational differences; so, it's important to common interests and goals. If your values are aligned, it doesn't really matter if there is a large age gap.
A 30-year age difference means a whopping 172% chance of divorce. So the bigger the age gap, the higher the chance of divorce. What is the reason for this?
For some celebrity couples, age is just a number. Jeff Goldblum, Sean Penn, and Richard Gere have partners who are more than 30 years their junior. Dennis Quaid and Mick Jagger are over 40 years older than their partners.
Couples with an age gap of 1 to 3 years (with the man older than the woman) were the most common and had the greatest levels of satisfaction. Relationship satisfaction decreased slightly for couples with age gaps of 4 to 6 years and continued to decrease for couples with an age gap of 7 or more years.
There is no hard and fast rule on what kind of an age gap is or isn't acceptable in any relationship. While couples typically tend to have an age gap of around one to three years in many cultures, each individual will have a different comfort level that they feel is right for them.
Issues like fertility, starting and blending families, differences in life stages like retirement need to be worked through. But beyond that, there's no such thing as a perfect age gap. No relationship is without flaws, nor are there any guaranteed outcomes. So if you and your mate are decades apart, it may not matter.
An age gap of 10 years or more is considered a big difference. When one person has a decade more life experience than their partner, the couple might be incompatible. You're likely to have different circles of friends, different interests, and different life goals.
Gertrude Grubb Janeway (USA, b. 3 July 1909), was 18 when she married 81-year-old Union Civil War veteran, John Janeway on 9 June 1927 – an age difference of 63 years.
Many people assume that age-gap couples fare poorly when it comes to relationship outcomes. But some studies find the relationship satisfaction reported by age-gap couples is higher. These couples also seem to report greater trust and commitment and lower jealousy than similar-age couples.
Many people know age-mismatched couples who have enjoyed a great marriage for decades. But as a practical matter, later in life, the older partner is likely to face health-related challenges before the younger partner—which may be stressful for both.
Older couples often consider mediation or collaborative divorce in order to expedite the divorce process. Leaving a marriage after 30 years may be a way to rejuvenate their lives. They likely have valuable assets. Most couples who have been together for 30 years or more have a valuable marital home.
What Percentage Of Marriages That Last 30 Years? 26.2% of marriages last 30 years. Marriages that last 30+ years are affected by death and divorce. Only 20.2% of married people are divorced after being married for 30 years.
Be fair and brave – tell your partner you're breaking up in person. Don't call your partner to end the relationship, or app, email or leave a voicemail. Set a date and time. Avoid ending your relationship during an argument or springing the 'news' on your partner.
Heterosexual couples with large age gaps had a faster decline in relationship satisfaction in their first 6 to 10 years of marriage than similarly aged couples. Couples with an age gap of 1 to 3 years (with the man older than the woman) were the most common and had the greatest levels of satisfaction.
Studies have found5 that women-older age gap relationships result in higher satisfaction for women when compared to others their own age. This is because the relationships tend to feel more equal in terms of money and career.
The falling share who break “the rule” reflects a society in which women and men are both becoming better educated and becoming more economically secure. This has led to people (especially women) getting married later.
There is no exact maximum or minimum acceptable age difference considered good or bad in a relationship. Research shows that married couples with a one-year age gap have a much lower chance of separation than couples with large age gaps.
“A man may be able to emotionally commit and attach himself to two women at the same time. However, in most cases, a woman will not be able to do the same. Women are emotionally inclined to attach and commit differently than men. Unlike men, women practice and pursue exclusivity in romance,” he says.
Middle adulthood. This time span is generally referred to as "middle age" and can be defined as the time of ages about 40+ to about 60+, depending also on sexes. Many changes may occur between young adulthood and this stage.
31 percent of couples have sex several times a week; 28 percent of couples have sex a couple of times a month; and 8 percent of couples have sex once a month. Sadly — or so we thought — 33 percent of respondents said they rarely or never have sex.
Age Gaps in Relationships: Find Common Ground
The truth is, there is no ideal or appropriate age gap in a relationship. Whether it's a 20 year age gap relationship or a 5 year age gap relationship, there will be both challenges and benefits to your situation.
In Western countries, of male-female couples have an age-gap of 10 years or more, rising to 25% in male-male unions and 15% of female-female relationships. For some the gap is even larger – data suggests that around 1% of heterosexual couples in the US have an age difference of 28 years or more.