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The practice of "marrying up" might be looked down upon by some, but when you're talking age, it might be the key to a happy marriage. A recent study showed that the couples who were the happiest and had the lowest divorce rate were those where the woman was at least five years younger than her husband -- and when she's better educated.But it doesn't work both ways. The same study claims that when the wife is older by five or more years, the couple is three times more likely to break up than if they're the same age. (We're looking at you, Demi.)
Does this mean that men with younger wives are destined to be happy? Perhaps. Another factor might be that we're getting better at staying together; at least that's what a different poll conducted by The Times of London stated: 54 percent of those polled hadn't even considered having an affair.
What's the key to remaining faithful? Pretty obvious: a decent amount of sex. Of the respondents, 44 percent said they had sex at least once a week and 32 percent are having it two to four times a month. Two percent of the couples, who are obviously a little more limber, are having sex every day.
But that doesn't mean everyone is remaining faithful. Compare the U.K. research with a 1991 survey from this side of the pond conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. The study found 22 percent of married men confessed to being unfaithful, while only 10 percent of married women admitted the same. In 2006, the same survey by the NORC found that 16.7 percent of women admitted to infidelity -- a dramatic increase.
What makes a person cheat on their partner? It's a deeply personal issue, but according to Dr. Lauren Rosewarne, quoted in The Times, "People cheat to feel younger, different or challenged."
Maybe, for those couples facing an age gap -- and possibly an intelligence one, too -- those extra years are enough to make the difference.
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Tuesday 27 October
By Sherry and Shayl
This study sounds right. I am nine years younger than my hubby and we have been happily married almost 17 years with 2 young kids. I feel blessed to have this marriage and experienced this kind of love.
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Tuesday 27 October
By Tracy
Me too!!! 9yrs younger, me was married before. I helped raise all 3 of his kids to his previous wife and we have 1 of our own who is 6yrs old. We have been together for 10= yrs and married for 7 (Oct. 19)!!!! Best thing that has ever happened to me and I would never give him up for anything!!!! We have a wonderful marriage and great kids!!!!
Tuesday 27 October
By Jack
I went from a selfish manipulative woman my age I put up with for many years to one of the hottest women I have ever met who is 15 years younger and very kind and generous by nature, who never fails to let me know she is totally into me. We couldn't be happier. And BTW, SHE suggested a prenup!
Tuesday 27 October
By Millerson
Quoting the article, "couples who were happiest and had the lowest divorce rate were those where the woman was AT LEAST five years younger than her husband" _________ Just look at history - up until about 1920, eyebrows would be raised at couples who were close to the same age getting married. Unless the man was very wealthy, it was considered a bad decision. Men needed to have a career going already that could support a family. Gee, what a concept, huh? Think of how many problems this would solve today if we had women who could afford to stay home and actually be mothers, instead of stuffing their offspring into daycare centers so that they could marry some idiot their own age, who is very likely to cheat on her, and be stressed out most of the time from economic responsibilities.
Tuesday 27 October
By Julie
This sounds right? It's not scientific research...My parents were 9 years apart, my mother was more educated. They divorced in 6 years. If my father wasn't a lazy bum who preferred food to women, I'm sure he would have cheated on her. Age and education aren't the only factors when looking for a suitable mate.
Tuesday 27 October
By lucchettol
The study just might be accurate. I have been married 12 years, have 2 children and my husband is 13 years older than I am. We've been through so much and still managed to stay together. As for the intimacy, it's as great as it was when we both started out as a couple.
Tuesday 27 October
By leaitjke
hi
Tuesday 27 October
By lhgraphics
then again, I'm 6.75 years older than my husband. Been married 21 yrs and still going strong.
Tuesday 27 October
By Sabrina Cuchine
Well in my case. My hubby is almost 19 years older then me and we can not seem to get along. He thinks just because he is older he knows everything. He has 3 kids from another marriage who he seems to treat better then our 1 yr old. I see divorce in my near future.
Wednesday 28 October
By Rino
I completly disagree. I always liked women at least 5 years older than me.
Tuesday 27 October
By sheri
I don't know about the younger woman thing...my husband and I have been happily married for 22 years, and I'm a year and a half older than him.
Tuesday 27 October
By nanci
Me too - he's 50, I'm 41 - been together for 23 years and married for 20.5. Good work!
Tuesday 27 October
By Caitlin
"What's the key to remaining faithful? Pretty obvious: a decent amount of sex." This claim is way too broad. How can anyone honestly believe the way to prevent your partner from cheating is to have sex with them more often? Plenty of men and women are in relationships where they enjoy sex regularly, and still get cheated on. I would argue that at least for women, cheating has a much stronger correlation with emotional dissatisfaction, than physical dissatisfaction.
Tuesday 27 October
By ideal age
In some cultures, older men wait for their wives to come of age to wed. This aritcle will start a lot of heated debates. But I am a woman, and I do agree that an older man/ younger woman is the ideal match.
Reply
Wednesday 28 October
By Laurie
My opinion is age does not always matter or the education but rather 2 want the same things out of life. Yes we all have urges to go outside the relationship to feel those feelings above, especially younger or sexier, but when it comes down to it thoughts and actions should go beyond mere emotions for the moment.
A relationship just doesn't take form, but rather two work on it every day and every year remembering that the love between is better than the fleeting stray for passion in the moment. Like anything in life it has bumps but hopefully the smooth moments make up for the discomfort I think everyone feels from time to time.
Be Well'
L
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Tuesday 27 October
By Toya
I think there is SOME logic to that. A more mateur man who has lived a little will likely be a better husband. He will obviously want an intelligent and beutiful wife (younger and smart) So I can accept this study to an extent. I think the true special ingrediant however, is God. He takes ANY situation to higher hights for couples that truly put him first and honor his word.
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Friday 30 October
By jenny bahtimy
Not true, two people staying married has nothing to do with God. Men do not like to have smarter woman, if they say they do is because the get one up for being married to one, they do not like free spiritted women, if they say they do is because they think it makes them look good. men and women will have sex with other people as long as no one will know. An easy going woman who does not ask too many question is what men want. We saw how men of god walked away from everything for sex. God is just a man made story, told by men who did not know how to comunicate with the other half of their brain.
Tuesday 27 October
By SuzieQ
Ahh I see, so what you are saying is that the younger woman that my husband left me for; married, and now has three children and completely ignores his child from our marriage will be successful? That is interesting.....let me share this with you and the negative comments about younger men/older women.....my most successful relationship is with my current S.O. whom is younger then myself. We share everything....have a great sex life......work very well together to achieve the same goals....As a matter of fact he is a much better father to my daughter then her own father is. I am very happy at this point in my life; the happiest I have ever been....so maybe we could look into that survey in about ten years...Maybe its not the age difference but the fact that the two individuals just "mesh"......
Reply
Tuesday 27 October
By Mike
Sounds like you(like most people) are fooling yourself into thinking that you are happy. You obviously still have a lot of anger busting inside you. Gotta let it go. Take a shot in the face by your new man tonight and forget about the past, I don't wanna hear about your sex life unless the videos are on the internet to back it up.
Tuesday 27 October
By M Bayard
Amen! I'm seen just about everything and there is no magic formula-common sense and respect go along way!