Age disparity in sexual relationships

Part of a series on
Sex differences in humans
Biology
Sexual differentiation disorders In research Physiology Dimorphism Scientific measures
Medicine and health
Autoimmunity Life expectancy Mental disorders autism depression schizophrenia substance abuse suicide Stroke care
Neuroscience and psychology
Cognition Coping Emotional expression Aggression Emotional intelligence Empathy Gender empathy gap Intelligence Memory Narcissism Neurosexism Sexuality age disparity in relationships attraction desire fantasy jealousy
Sociology and society
Crime Education in the U.S. Gender inequality Greater male expendability Greater male variability Leadership Religion Social capital Social support Sociolinguistics Gender-equality paradox
v t e

In heterosexual sexual relationships, concepts of age disparity, including what defines an age disparity, have developed over time and vary among societies. Differences in age preferences for mates can stem from partner availability, gender roles, and evolutionary mating strategies, and age preferences in sexual partners may vary cross-culturally. There are also social theories for age differences in relationships as well as suggested reasons for 'alternative' age-hypogamous relationships. Age-disparate relationships have been documented for most of recorded history and have been regarded with a wide range of attitudes dependent on sociocultural norms and legal systems.^[1]