Couples with a large age difference are not unheard of in modern society. For a long time, there have always been relationships between a man older and a younger woman, or vice versa. The big question is: are they more or less likely to succeed?
More than that, is it recommended (or even healthy)?
see more
Australian keeps strange rock thinking it's gold, but is surprised...
The sweet stuff is gone! Government wants to tax international purchases…
A study by scientists at Emory University in Atlanta looked into this question. Researchers Andrew Farcis and Hugo Mialon interviewed 3 thousand couples and analyzed several points of the individual life that could be – or not – an obstacle in life as a couple: education, race and the difference in age.
Let's say yes, but also no. According to the study, the chance of a couple separating increases as the age difference between the two parties also increases.
The article pointed out that couples with a difference of one or two years in age have only a 3% chance of breaking up. However, when the “gap” increases to 10 years, the percentage increases considerably: 39% chance of termination.
The figure becomes even higher when the difference is greater than 20 years. According to the article from the North American university, the chance of break is 95%. In other words, almost 100%.
To reach this result, scientists considered current marital status, duration of marriage, feelings, expenses, age at marriage and also religion.
It is interesting, however, to emphasize that the result of the article is not an absolute truth. In other words, it is quite possible that, if this is your love situation, you and your partner will be very happy, given that you are 20 years old and he (or she) is 40.
Have you ever heard of the expression “daddy issues“? Sometimes used as a joke, it refers to someone younger's preference for a (much) older partner. Some lines of psychology explain that desire often comes from paternal absence in childhood or adolescence. Or even a dysfunctional paternal presence.
As explained by psychologist and researcher at the University of Brasília (UnB), Fabrício Lemos, to the G1 portal.
The opposite happens, according to the psychologist at the Development University (UDD), Marcela Flores, when the older person refuses to feel and live the age they really are. And having someone younger on your side feeds this feeling.
Graduated in Social Communication from the Federal University of Goiás. Passionate about digital media, pop culture, technology, politics and psychoanalysis.