Expert reveals ‘perfect’ age gap for couples

Whether you’re tall or small, young or old, love is something that everyone wants to experience no matter how unconventional.

But when it comes to age gaps, how much of a difference is too much?

When it's Hollywood, different ages is pretty common to see, and a lot of the times, it works out (as far as celebrity marriages work out that is).

Some well-known couples who you might know about have at least a decade between them, such as Peter Andre, 50, and his wife Emily, 34, who are 16 years apart. The couple are even expecting another baby this year.

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Leonardo DiCaprio, 49, is renowned for dating the under 25 age group, George Clooney, 62, and wife Amal, 45, are 17 years apart, Kris Jenner, 68, and Corey Gamble, 43, are 25 years apart, and Cher, 77, has been loved up with her boyfriend Alexander Edwards, 38, who is 39 years her junior.

Obviously, age gaps aren’t exclusive to the celeb world, but we aren’t as invested in those.

Thankfully, to clear things up, a relationship expert has revealed the ‘perfect’ age gap for couples.

Emory University in Atlanta conducted a study which alleges to have found the best age gap as well as the number between couples most likely to lead in failure.

The study claimed that couples with more than two decades between them have a 95 percent chance of separating.

Now, a couple with a 20-year age gap that you’ll know of is the one between Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 36, and Jason Statham, 56.

But they seem like a strong couple!

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But the study also predicts that those with a ten-year age gap aren’t out of the woods either, and have a 39 percent chance of splitting.

It went on to detail those with a five-year age gap have an 18 percent chance of coming to an end too.

So, really…what on Earth is a successful age gap?

12 months is apparently the perfect age gap between a pairing, with only a three percent chance of breaking up, according to researchers.

Samantha Jayne, a relationship expert told news.com.au: “Dating someone closer to your age does make it easier when it comes to common ground. You tend to ‘get’ each other if you grew up in the same generation.”

Now, the study wasn’t flimsy at all as it extensively looked at 3,000 couples. But there are always exceptions to the rules.

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Of course, any couple with or without an age gap can call it quits (just look at Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner, who are seven years apart).

Samantha explained: “You know the same music, TV shows, fashion, political/global issues. It comes down to birds of a feather flock together.”

However, some singles might prefer to date an older partner or someone older depending on what they are seeking from the relationship.

Samantha said: “All circumstances are different, and it does come down to an individual. Ultimately the studies have found that a gap of one to three years has the greatest level of happiness and satisfaction.

“Often with larger age gaps there tends to be a power struggle. Sometimes the older one is more like a parent and the younger one is more in a follow position with less of a voice.

“In some cases, some cultures frown upon large age gaps especially with women being older so this can be very challenging.”

Even though we tend to see men in the role of an older partner seeking a younger woman, Samatha also believes that the roles have reversed, with older women looking for younger men for relationships these days.

I mean, Cher is a great example and recently toted her ‘things you’ve got to try once’ as ‘date a younger man’ during her Chicken Shop Date with Amelia Dimoldenberg.

So, if you’re looking for a relationship, it might be best to stick to the one-year rule.

Topics: News, Sex and Relationships, Kris Jenner, Celebrity

Britt Jones