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Expert reveals the ideal age gap for couples to make their relationship last

Expert reveals the ideal age gap for couples to make their relationship last

Relationship gurus have researched the success rates of different cross-generational romances

Research conducted by dating experts in recent years has found that 'age-gap' romances are becoming increasingly more commonplace in today's society.

While we once viewed them as 'taboo', the success of some celebrity cross-generational couples have opened people's eyes.

With the likes of big-name power couples Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones (25 years apart), George and Amal Clooney (17 years) and Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively (11 years) proving that love is blind, it's no surprise that so many singletons are allowing themselves to fall for the person, not the number (within legal limits, of course!).

"The way we see relationships has changed," relationships expert and founder of the Wingman App Tina Wilson explained to Tyla earlier this month. Nowadays, people care more about having forming genuine connections than they do about age differences.

"Society is also more accepting of different kinds of relationships, so people feel freer to love who they want, regardless of age."

Tina continued: "In the celebrity world, age-gap romances often draw a lot of attention because they're seen as exciting and different. But also, celebrities seek real connections too.

Hollywood duo Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas are 25 years apart.
Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic

"From royalty to celebrities, age-gap relationships are trending. They have proven the test of time and helped normalise age-gap relationships in the public eye."

On top of Tina's assertions, another group of dating gurus have this week gone as far as to specify what they believe the 'ideal' age-gap should be between two partners, in order to guarantee a higher chance of success.

And according to a study conducted by Emory University in Atlanta, the bigger the difference the bigger the chance of separation.

As part of the research, 3,000 people were analysed, after which it was determined that couple's with a five-year age gap or more are 19 percent more likely to call time on their relationship than partners who are the same age.

Arguably even more interesting is the fact this figure sky-rocketed when it came to couples with decade-wide age-gaps, the chances of split shot up to 39 percent.

Apparently, the ideal age gap is just one year.
Klaus Vedfelt/Getty

And for those with a 20-year distance, that figure soared again to a staggering 95 percent.

According to one of the researchers behind the study, Hugo Mialon, there's a 'sweet spot' when it comes to age-gap love, and apparently it's exactly one year between yourself and your partner, with a much lesser chance of break-up, at just three percent.

Featured Image Credit: Bruce Glikas/WireImage/Instagram/@Kristincavallari

Topics: Celebrity, Sex and Relationships, Real Life, Life