While dating someone, there’s a wide range of things you probably consider to determine the compatibility between you and your partner in various ways but there’s one thing you may not have taken into consideration that’s worth giving a little thought to, is your age gap. While it’s often true that a relationship age gap of 10 years or more can increase your chances of having marital problems and that it will often raise eyebrows, also it is evident in many relationships that couples with a huge age gap face some inevitable problems in their marriages when society, families and friends fail to support their decision.
Now the question is, Is there an ideal age gap for setting yourself up for success in the relationship department? As it turns out, science tells us there is an ideal age difference in a relationship that can increase your chances for everlasting love, and it’s a lot less complicated than you have ever thought.
Believe it or not, there is no hidden secret or a recipe for a guaranteed successful marriage.
A happy and healthy relationship is dictated by the couples themselves, and there are various factors that contribute to success. We all know that the best things in life don’t come easy and it includes love too.
Continue reading to discover the ideal age gap for long-term happiness and successful marriage/relationship.
According to various studies and research done so far, marital satisfaction tends to decrease more in couples with a larger age gap compared to couples with more similar ages.
Couples with a same age to three-years age gap showed a much greater satisfaction than those with a four- to seven-years difference. Likewise, couples with a four- to seven-years gap showed greater satisfaction than those with a seven-plus year gap. In general, marital satisfaction decreases as the age difference increases. One theory supported by evidence provided in the study is that differently aged couples are less resilient to negative shocks in the relationship, including both economic hardship and illness.
It is also worth noting that, on an average, both men and women showed greater levels of marital satisfaction when married to younger partners than those with partners older than them, regardless of the age gap. However, that initial higher satisfaction seemed to decline after six to 10 years of marriage.
If you’ve found someone you really feel belonged to, it’s quite obvious that you’d be hesitant to break things off simply because of the difference in your age. After all, maturity is relative and can be measured in more than just years. Making your relationship work is really about having enough things to share in common, enough difference to learn from each other, and similar views on how to carry on your relationship. But before you make any major decisions, try answering these questions to make sure you and your partner are on the same page.
- What are your life goals? It is good to think about your future goals and your vision for life. It may be things like careers, children, finances and other major life events. They are worth having an honest conversation about. Talk about it and see if your ideas and opinions matches, if not then look for a ways which can help you have a common goal.
- What common interests do you share? This again is an important question to think about. These will become even more important with the passage of time. Develop your shared hobbies and interests, as they can strengthen your connection when an age gap may create distance. This will surely help you in building a fruitful relationship.
- Do your values and morals match up? This may seem like an obvious one, but give some more time and thoughts to it. Do not hesitate to talk about the subjects that could lead to conflict in the future, like politics, parenting and religion.
- Are you ready to compromise? An important aspect of any healthy relationship is the ability to compromise, but even more so when your partner is in a different stage of life than you are. So get married only when you are ready to compromise on many things that comes your way.
- Are you okay with outside opinions? Research suggests that age-gap couples should be prepared to encounter negative bias and opinions which will surround them all through their life. So if you’re someone who is more sensitive to unsolicited opinions, be ready to field questions and comments that you may find annoying or downright rude.
In the end, for any relationship to be successful, it is important to trust your partner and to prepare yourself from criticisms that will come from outside. To be open and honest with each other is the best way to prepare for future discord. Focus on ways to prevent the difference in your ages from creating a divide between you, and recognize that you may be at different stages of your life at any given time, and that’s okay. Mutual respect and open communication will go a long way in bridging any gap. Also, always try to keep the romance alive.
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