Women looking for love in their mid-twenties usually tend to look for someone 2.7 years older, but that only lasts until a certain age – after that, the ‘age gap’ for romance closes
Boffins have revealed Leonardo DiCaprio’s preference for dating women half his age may not be solely his decision.
Younger women are much more prone to going out with older men until they get older themselves and realise that they may be lumbered with looking after an old geezer. A study found women choosing a partner at 25 opt on average for someone 2.7 years older. But when they get to 60 and are looking for love again, the age gap closes entirely. The team behind the study from the University College Dublin said: “Women tend to enter relationships with older men.
“But as they age, the age gap [at which a relationship starts] practically disappears at around 60. Choosing a same-aged or younger partner after the age of 60 may allow women to postpone or avoid the care-giving burden and better maintain their emotional wellbeing.”
It is claimed if men have not married or are in a long-term relationship by the time they’re over 60, they are likely to go out with a woman at least ten years younger than them.
The team said: “’Men tend to initiate relationships with younger women, and the age difference tends to increase as they get older.’’
It comes after previous research found men think it is important to have youthful looking partners and rich blokes want to boost their image.
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Titanic star Leo, 50, is well-known for dating women much younger than him. His current squeeze is 26-year-old Italian model Vittoria Ceretti.
He has previously dated other models while they were in their 20s, including Nina Agdal, Bar Refaeli and Camila Morrone.
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