As the saying goes, ‘age is nothing but a number’ many people wonder if this is indeed true. Although love doesn’t look at age it is very important to counter argue the factors of dating someone who is older than you.
PsychCentral, an information hub that provides insightful content about mental health and relationships, states that within any relationship there exists a spectrum of similarities and differences between partners. While some couples may share common traits with one another, others might find themselves struggling to reconcile the notable age gap between them, but for some people in romantic relationships who have a big age difference but still feel compatible with each other, this is not seen as a big problem.
Dr. Loren Olson -a psychiatrist from Des Moines Iowa-affirms that ,“We have a chronological age, a psychological age, a physical age, and a sexual age. Age gap couples frequently are compatible in the last three.”
The BusinessInsider information source has three tips on how to navigate age-gap relationships:
- Understanding and Accepting Lifestyle Differences: The information hub states that when you are in an age-gap relationship your lifestyles and interests in things won’t be the same and knowing the other’s mental and physical state is crucial for the relationship in the long-run.
- Offering Support Instead of Control: Younger partners should be aware of their independence and not give up things they want to please the older partner.The older partner should offer support by helping to navigate the same pitfalls they faced when they were younger and assist in highlighting the junior partner’s strengths, promoting their independence, autonomy and career development.
- Surrounding Oneself with Nonjudgmental People: Age-gap relationships may encounter disapproval from individuals of varying ages within both the couple’s social circles and family. Feeling judged or having to justify the relationship can create stress.
Also see: Love and longevity: How relationships impact your health
