Choosing a partner is one of the key decisions in our lives and age plays an important role in this process. Research shows that men tend to prefer younger partners, while women usually choose older partners. But how do these preferences change over the course of a lifetime and what all influences our decisions? A new large-scale study, in which the INPSY research team was involved, has looked at this very question in more detail.
The study was led by researcher Jaroslav Gottfried from the University of Dublin in collaboration with Anna Ševčíková and Lukas Blinka from INPSY and Andrea Lambert South from Northern Kentucky University. They set out to investigate how age differences between partners differ at different stages of life and whether these differences can be explained by evolutionary and sociocultural theories. The researchers used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), a large-scale project tracking health, social and economic aspects of the lives of Europeans over 50.
The study included 35 996 people from 28 European countries, and the authors focused only on heterosexual couples. The researchers examined the relationship between the age at which individuals entered into a relationship and the age difference between partners, and whether these patterns differed between countries.
Men choose younger and younger partners as they get older
The results of the research showed that men entering a relationship at the age of 25 usually have a partner about 3 years younger. However, this gap widens as men get older - by the age of 50 they prefer their new partner to be on average 8 years younger. According to the authors, this trend can be explained by evolutionary theory, with men preferring younger women in order to fulfil their reproductive potential at an older age. The youthful appearance of women thus evokes greater reproductive potential in men, which is why, according to evolutionary theory, they choose younger and younger partners as they grow older.
Women prefer older men, but only up to a certain age
On the other hand, women aged 25 prefer partners on average 3 years older, according to the results. This phenomenon can also be explained by an evolutionary context where women seek partners with the potential to provide resources during the reproductive period. However, the age gap narrows with age and almost disappears after age 60 - older women tend to seek partners their own age or even younger. This, according to the authors, can be explained by women focusing more on emotional support and more equal partner relationships in the later stages of life. This may also be related to the fact that at older ages, women place more emphasis on their partner's health rather than their resources, allowing women to defer or avoid altogether the caregiving burden that can have negative effects on their mental well-being.
The study shows that age preferences in partner relationships are not fixed, but change over the course of life. Evolutionary theories provide a framework for understanding these preferences, but it is important to consider the sociocultural context that influences mate choice decisions. These findings are important not only for understanding the dynamics of partner relationships, but also for future research on relationship stability and dating issues in later life.
Recommended citation:
Gottfried, J., Ševčíková, A., Blinka, L., & Lambert South, A. (2024). Couples age discrepancies in a large‐scale European sample: Evolutionary and sociocultural perspectives. Personal Relationships, 31(4), 987-1000. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12579
