Most people date or marry someone close to their own age. But relationships with large age gaps—sometimes decades apart—are becoming more common. Despite this trend, little scientific research has explored how happy partners are in such relationships. A key unanswered question: Is one partner typically happier than the other? And does age play a role?
A new study, led by psychologist Samantha Banbury and her team at London Metropolitan University, set out to investigate. Their findings, published in 2025, shed light on relationship satisfaction in couples with significant age differences.
How the Study Worked
The researchers analyzed data from 126 volunteers in relationships with an age gap of at least seven years. Participants included both younger partners dating older individuals and vice versa. Each volunteer completed surveys on well-being, relationship satisfaction, sexual happiness, and financial stability.
Key Findings
Relationship Satisfaction
Men (both heterosexual and homosexual) reported much higher satisfaction when dating a partner at least seven years younger. Those with older partners were less satisfied.
Women, however, showed no significant difference—they were equally happy with younger or older partners.
Sexual Satisfaction
Both men and women, regardless of sexual orientation, were more sexually satisfied with a younger partner.
Financial Stability
Younger women with older male partners and younger men with older male partners felt more financially secure.
Surprisingly, this effect did not apply to younger men dating older women or younger women dating older women.
General Well-Being
Age gaps had no major impact on overall happiness outside of relationship dynamics.
The Bottom Line
The study clearly shows that in age-gap relationships, the older partner is generally more satisfied—especially men. Younger partners, meanwhile, may benefit in areas like financial security but don’t always report higher relationship happiness.
These findings challenge common assumptions and highlight how age dynamics shape romantic partnerships in unexpected ways.
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