How much does the Age difference in a relationship matter to you.

[Zach Wasaka]

Glen Campbell's recent death at 81-years-old is another painful reminder of why large age-gap marriages are fraught with many difficulties. In this case, Glen was almost twice Kim's age when he married her, (24 vs 46) so definitely old enough to have been her father. Also, Kim is now only 59, so since Glen has passed, Kim could now be subjected to living another 30 years or so without her husband. Of course, any spouse at any age could suddenly die for many different reasons, but marrying a much older person increases the odds exponentially that you'll be on this earth without them for quite some time.

Research from Emory University shows the bigger the age gap in a marriage, the more likely that couple won't last.
"There are many early indications of what might cause a marriage to crumble before a couple walks down the aisle — and the age gap between partners is one of them. According to data in a recent study of 3,000 people by Andrew Francis and Hugo Mialon, professors in the Department of Economics at Emory University in Atlanta, it could be a considerable factor. Randal Olson, a fourth-year computer science graduate research assistant at Michigan State University, crunched the raw data from Emory and found that a larger age gap is related to a higher divorce rate.

A five-year age gap statistically means you’re 18 percent more likely to divorce (versus just 3 percent with a 1-year age difference), and that rate rises to 39 percent for a 10-year age difference and 95 percent for a 20-year age gap.
Partners from different generations may have different cultural reference points and values, and polar opposite tastes in music and film, and even friends, and also have different approaches to their sex life." New York Post

[Zach Wasaka]

Most of the times its circumstances that forces us in Such relationships where there is a very big difference.

[B/W Photodude]

Yeah, big age differences meaning the relationship won't last may be due to things like if a man marries a woman more than 7 years younger than himself, he is more likely to die sooner!

[Zach Wasaka]

2 minutes ago, B/W Photodude said:

Yeah, big age differences meaning the relationship won't last may be due to things like if a man marries a woman more than 7 years younger than himself, he is more likely to die sooner!

What if the woman is the one that is older than the Man? What happens then.

[Gregory Matthews]

Statistics are simply averages which may not apply to a specific situation.

There was less than two (2) years difference between my age and that of my first wife.

There is more than 10 years difference between my age and that of my present  wife.  We have been married for more than 30 years and neither of us is planning a divorce.

However, I do agree that from the social standpoint, there are likely to be differences, when there is a large age difference, that may adversely affect a marriage.  But, those differences do not have to control.

 

[B/W Photodude]

3 hours ago, Zach Wasaka said:

What if the woman is the one that is older than the Man? What happens then.

Don't believe it has been studied as older men- younger women is much more common than the other way around.

And per Gregory, yes, you do have to be careful about how you interpret statistics. I remember a a book one time being written entitled "How to Lie with Statistics".

If a certain situation such as cancer rates say 60% of people in that situation will get cancer, do you have a 60% chance of getting cancer? No, you will either get it or you won't.

[Zach Wasaka]

15 hours ago, Gregory Matthews said:

Statistics are simply averages which may not apply to a specific situation.

There was less than two (2) years difference between my age and that of my first wife.

There is more than 10 years difference between my age and that of my present  wife.  We have been married for more than 30 years and neither of us is planning a divorce.

However, I do agree that from the social standpoint, there are likely to be differences, when there is a large age difference, that may adversely affect a marriage.  But, those differences do not have to control.

 

Thanks Gregory for such a wonderful explanation. I see many young men today marry Women older than them simply because those in there age bracket always seem not to be ready and so many other issues.

 

[Jeannieb43]

Zach, were you implying that that photograph was showing Glen Campbell??

To me, it appears to be someone else [famous publisher who owned a huge Beverly Hills mansion and entertained many "playboy bunnies."   But I can't think of his name just now.....]

 

 

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

2 hours ago, Jeannieb43 said:

Zach, were you implying that that photograph was showing Glen Campbell??

To me, it appears to be someone else [famous publisher who owned a huge Beverly Hills mansion and entertained many "playboy bunnies."   But I can't think of his name just now.....]

the fellow in the photo is Hugh Hefner — definitely not Glen Campbell..

[Gail]

Yes, I wondered what the photo had to do with Glen Campbell.

[Gail]

My husband and I are 14 years apart. There is a generation gap but who cares? I am much happier with him than I ever was in my first marriage. Being the same age does not mean you will be compatible.

[Gregory Matthews]

Gail:  Exactly the same as my wife and I--14 years.  

 

[GayatfootofCross]

My partner is 10 years older and we have been together for over 28 years now.

I look about 15 plus years younger than I am therefore people assume he is my dad over and over again!