Younger Older Relationships

Half Your Age Plus Seven?

Fortunately, the very question of what is considered too young—or old—has been pondered by the French, who developed a useful formula called “Half Your Age Plus Seven?” To determine the range of what is considered socially acceptable, divide your own age in half and then add seven.

For example, a 30-year old can date anyone from 22 to 46, according to the formula. To get 22, you divide 30 in half, leaving you with 15 remaining, and then add seven more to arrive at 22. Figuring out the high range of 46 requires knowing the math of a 46 year old.

If math is something you are not comfortable with, visit this website and use the calculator at the top of the page.

Not everyone will agree with the results of this formula, but it does provide a good starting point, as it keeps younger, less mature people together while giving more of a range for older adults.

If you are dating outside of the range of this formula, you are more likely to have your relationship questioned by friends and family, and you may find it more difficult for the relationship to be successful. But, it doesn’t mean that it can’t work.

Older Men and Younger Women

Some of the reasons an older man may be attracted to a younger woman include:

• Sense of Adventure. It can make the older man feel younger.

• Respect and Esteem. It naturally feels great to be looked-up to.

• Physical. Whether purely for sexual enjoyment or because of wanting to father a child, an older man may look to younger women for physical reasons.

A younger woman may have her own reasons for wanting to date an older man, such as:

• Maturity and Experience. She may enjoy his experience and knowledge about life, love and work.

• Money and Security. An older man usually is more established than a younger man.

Older Women and Younger Men

An older woman dating a younger man has become more common in recent years. There are many reasons why an older woman would be attracted to a younger man:

• Adventure and energy. Some women find that they have far more energy than men their own ages, especially older woman, and so they need someone younger who can keep up with them.

• Adaptability. This could mean finding a man who is able to move for her career, or simply a man who has fewer possessions and looks forward to moving in with her.

Younger men have their own reasons for wanting older women, which includes:

• Experience. Older women have more experience in life that can be attractive to a man.

• Established. Chances are that an older woman is more established in her career and life, along with a better sense of what she wants.

Younger Older Relationship Challenges

Even if the younger older relationship is meeting the needs of both partners, there are still challenges that the couple may face.

• Public Scorn. If the age gap is significant, you may face scrutiny from friends and family, and possibly even the public at large.

• Insecurity. While all relationships can lead to feeling insecure about the viability of the relationship, this is especially true with younger older relationships. You may be constantly wondering if the other person will grow weary of your age and leave you for someone closer to their own age.

• Incompatibility. There is also the risk that the age difference is too great and you’ll eventually break up due to incompatibility.

Conclusion

Younger older relationships can work, but you must be honest with yourself and with your partner. Really examine your desires and needs to determine if someone much older or younger is the best person for you. Then be sure to communicate your feelings with your partner. Strong communication will help you to avoid many of the challenges that other younger older relationships face.