Does an age gap matter in a relationship? Filipinos split on issue
MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos are split when it comes to the topic of relationships with an age gap, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
According to poll results released on Wednesday, the eve of Valentine’s Day, 50 percent of adult Filipinos say that an age gap matters in a relationship, while 41 percent believe it does not. The remaining 9 percent are undecided on the matter.
The SWS says that “opinions about age gap hardly vary among men and women.”
More older men in the 55-years-and-above bracket believe that an age gap matters — 54 percent compared to 38 percent who said otherwise.
In 18-to-24 bracket, only 45 percent said an age gap matters while 40 percent said it does not matter.
For women, however, more of the younger ones believe that an age gap matters.
In the 18-to-24 bracket, 65 percent said that an age gap matters in a relationship while 33 said it does not.
In the 35-to-44 and in the 45-to-55 brackets combined, 48 percent said an age gap matters while 43 percent believe otherwise.
SWS says respondents were asked with the question: In your opinion, does age gap matter in a relationship?
Older or younger?
“Among women, net willingness to have a relationship with someone 10 years younger was negative in all age groups, ranging from -12 to -45, with the lowest scores coming from the youngest and oldest age groups,” the SWS said.
On the other hand, among men “willingness to be with someone 10 years younger was highest” among those aged 25-34 years old — with 53 percent of them saying they would willing while the remaining 26 percent are not.
For men in the 35-to-44 bracket, 54 percent are willing while 27 were not. And for men in 45-to-54 bracket, 49 percent are willing while 29 percent are not.
Meanwhile, 47 percent of men in the 55-and-above bracket are willing while 31 percent are not.
However, for men in the 18-to-24, only 31 percent are willing while 45 percent are not.
On the topic of being in a relationship with someone 10 years older, however, women among the majority of the age groups said they are willing except those aged 55 and above.
Among women, “willingness to have a relationship with someone 10 years older was highest” among those in the 35-to-44 bracket — with 60 percent of them willing while only 21 are not.
For men, willingness to be with someone 10 years older was highest among those in the 35-to-44 bracket — with 48 percent willing while the remaining 26 percent are not.
This time, the respondents were asked with these two questions:
1. Are you willing to be in a relationship with someone who is older than you by 10 years or more? (Definitely willing, Somewhat willing, Undecided if willing or not, Somewhat not willing, Definitely not willing)
2. Are you willing to be in a relationship with someone who is younger than you by 10 years or more? (Definitely willing, Somewhat willing, Undecided if willing or not, Somewhat not willing, Definitely not willing) /atm
