Couples age discrepancies in a large-scale European sample : Evolutionary and sociocultural perspectives

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GOTTFRIED Jaroslav ŠEVČÍKOVÁ Anna BLINKA Lukas LAMBERT SOUTH Andrea

Rok publikování 2024
Druh Článek v odborném periodiku
Časopis / Zdroj Personal Relationships
Fakulta / Pracoviště MU

Fakulta sociálních studií

Citace
www https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pere.12579
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pere.12579
Klíčová slova age discrepancies; couple; evolutionary approaches; genderdifferences; SHARE
Přiložené soubory
Popis This study examines age discrepancies in couples formed at various stages of life. Both evolutionary and sociocultural perspectives suggest that people's preferences for their partner's age gradually change throughout their lifespan. This study includes European couples (N?=?35,996; 51% women and 49% men) surveyed in two waves of the panel study Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). A linear regression model was employed to analyze age differences in couples concerning when the relationship began. For men, the projected age of their partner decreased by nearly 1 year for every 5?years of their age. A similar but smaller effect was observed for women. These findings were consistent across 29 countries and indicated that men tended to be more inclined to start relationships with younger partners as they grew older. Conversely, women's initial tendency to partner with slightly older individuals shifted toward same-aged partners as they aged. These results indirectly suggest that preferences in age-related mate selection may systematically change as individuals grow older. An evolutionary and sociocultural rationale for age disparities seems plausible for men, regardless of their age, whereas sociocultural influences come into play for women as they age.
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