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Do May-December Romances Work Out?

OlderYoungerCouple

It’s never easy to divorce, so when couples get married, they want to know that there’s a low chance of their marriage ending. There are many factors that can cause a marriage to end, from finances to addiction to infidelity to abuse.

Another issue that some couples face is age gaps. While many celebrities deal with them (typically older men with much younger women), they are not easy to navigate. Studies show that an age gap of less than five years is ideal. Once the age gap widens, it is often termed a May-December romance.

At first, May-December marriages do well—they are basically similar to same-age couples. But as time goes on, the relationship tends to sour. While older men seem to be the most satisfied,  the feeling of the younger woman is not always reciprocated. Studies show that women are particularly dissatisfied when they’re married to older husbands but much more satisfied if they’re married to younger husbands. The satisfaction tends to decrease at around 6-10 years of marriage.

While age gap marriages with 10, 20, or more years between the partners can be hard, they are not impossible. But they do take a lot of work on behalf of both parties, who need to be prepared for various obstacles.

How to Make Things Work

One thing to keep in mind is that age is not necessarily a factor when it comes to happiness in relationships. Trust, commitment, and respect are factors that are much more important. Plus, most couples who are in relationships with huge age gaps have put a lot of work into their relationship and are reaping the rewards. They know how to build a strong bond from the beginning, which any relationship can benefit from.

One of the biggest challenges, however, is dealing with judgments from others. Friends, family members, and society as a whole tend to disapprove of age gap relationships. Social disapproval can put a huge strain on this type of relationship, so those involved need to be aware of this and learn how to avoid the negative comments if they want their marriage to work.

It’s also important for these couples to have open, honest discussions about career goals and other things they plan to do in the future. That’s because dealing with careers, retirements, illnesses, and other life changes will need to be priorities, especially since the partners will be at different stages of their lives.

Seek Help for Your Divorce

While the saying goes that age is nothing but a number, studies show otherwise. When it comes to marriage, the larger the age gap, the higher the risk of divorce.

Those who marry someone a lot older or younger than them need to be aware of the risk of divorce. A Dade City & Zephyrhills divorce attorney from Madonna Law Group can help you if you do decide to divorce. To schedule a consultation with our office, fill out the online form or call (800) 557-0411.

Source:

brides.com/relationships-with-age-gaps-5105357

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