Pros and Cons of Dating an Older Man or Woman

My follower asked me, “I met a man who is 15 years older than me. Should I date him or not?”

You’ve met an older guy. You’ve never dated anyone who’s 10-20-30 years your senior, but this guy is something special, and you want to give him a shot. Or maybe you’ve met an older woman, and she’s a goddess. She’s your Mrs. Robinson, and you’re mature enough to match her.

But how will this relationship work out? Is the age gap too wide? Does age matter? Well, there are a number of pros and cons of dating an older man or woman…and they’re one and the same.

Pro: They’re Mature

When you’re thinking of dating older men, the pros and cons list should include their maturity level. It’s a scientific fact that women mature faster than men, so if you’re a mature young woman who’s going after an older guy, you may be on the same level. Neurological research backs this up—a 2009 longitudinal study found that girls reach peak brain volume around age 10.5, while boys do so at 14.5, showing that females typically develop faster on a biological level ¹ .

Con: They’re Mature

Then again, maturity isn’t always fun. If you’re young and free-spirited, you don’t want a stick-in-the-mud rolling their eyes at the walrus teeth you made out of straws at dinner. Sometimes dating someone who is too mature can be a real downer.

Pro: They’re Experienced

Someone who is older than you can be your teacher in a number of ways. They’ve been around the block a time or two, so they’re experienced in relationships, and they may be better apt at dealing with relationship issues. And interestingly, some science points to a real health benefit for older men in these partnerships: a Stockholm University study found that men over 50 with younger wives had lower mortality rates—90 per 1,000—compared to 112 per 1,000 for those with older wives ² .

Con: They’re Experienced

Then again, they’re experienced, and their relationships may not have worked out in the past. Older doesn’t always mean wiser, and they may have a lot of baggage. So perhaps they’re not anyone to learn or take advice from.

Pro: They’re Financially Stable

As with dating older men, when you’re dating older women, the pros and cons are many. One of these pros is that they are often more financially stable. If you aren’t particularly flush, dating someone older can mean a step up in the financial bracket. Of course, this can be a wonderful thing when it comes to the quality of life…and you no longer have to fear your landlord or pick up the check. If finances are a problem, this can only be a good thing.

Con: They’re Financially Stable

Or is it? A huge difference in income can be an area of contention in any relationship, whether there’s an age gap or not. If an older man or woman is trying to buy your love, it’s unlikely that there will be any real love in the relationship. Money can be used as power, keeping you dependent and on a short leash. Statistically, big age gaps themselves can strain stability—relationship satisfaction often dips once the age difference passes 10 years, and couples with a 20-year gap face a 95% higher chance of divorce compared to same-age couples ³ .

As you can see, the pros and cons of dating an older woman or man can go either way. It completely depends on who you are and who this older man or woman is. Age shouldn’t matter if love is there, but it can be an issue, even in a loving relationship. And it can be a deal-breaker if there’s no love at all. My advice: take a look at your relationship and analyze it a bit before dating someone significantly older than you.

How to Build a Relationship if a Man is Much Older?

Many studies claim that the best way to prolong a man's youth and vitality is to have an affair with a young lady. Healthy food and green smoothies are cool, but not so much fun, you must admit.

Gentlemen at an age who are lucky enough to get a young girlfriend live longer and healthier than their peers, to whom the Universe has not given such a gift.

If you are already a deeply adult and lonely man, then you should know - no massager from the shop will charge you with such energy as a hot girl who barely caught the 80s.

P.S. Lovely girls, read and memorize spy information while we turn our backs.

Author

WINGMAN BARNEY

I am a part computer algorithm, part real relationship expert, who can give advice on everything regarding relationships.