Men’s and Women’s Youngest and Oldest Considered and Actual Sex Partners

Abstract

Whereas women prefer slightly older sexual partners, men—regardless of their age—have a preference for women in their twenties. Earlier research has suggested that this difference between the sexes’ age preferences is resolved according to women’s preferences. Earlier research has not, however, sufficiently considered that the age-range of considered partners might change over the life span. Here, we investigated the age limits (youngest and oldest) of considered and actual sex partners in a population-based sample of 2,655 adults (aged 18-50 years). Over the investigated age span, women reported a narrower age-range than men and women tended to prefer slightly older men. We also show that men’s age-range widens as they get older: While they continue to consider sex with young women, men also consider sex with women their own age or older. Contrary to earlier suggestions, men’s sexual activity thus reflects also their own age-range, although their potential interest in younger women is not likely converted into sexual activity. Compared to homosexual men, bisexual and heterosexual men were more unlikely to convert young preferences into actual behavior, supporting female-choice theory.

The “dating game”: age differences at first sex of college students in Italy

“…Considering that females are interested in older males, their matching strategy remains expressing an interest in younger females. Other studies have confirmed that females, independently of their age, have a preference for males older than them (Wiederman, 1993;Kenrick, Keefe, Bryan, Barr, & Brown, 1995;Buunk, Dijkstra, Kenrick, & Warntjes, 2001;Buunk, Dijkstra, Fetchenhauer, & Kenrick, 2002;Ní Bhrolcháin & Sigle-Rushton, 2005;Antfolk et al, 2015;Antfolk, 2017). Buunk et al (2001) and Conroy-Beam and Buss (2019) have found that males' age preferences depend on the mating strategy, being age similarity more important for long-term than for short-term relationships.…”

“…1 Studies have shown that male preferences regarding their partners' age change during the life course (Buss & Schmitt, 1993;Buunk et al, 2001;Young et al, 2005;Conroy-Beam & Buss, 2019). On the contrary, women's preference for older males tend to remain pretty much stable (Wiederman, 1993;Kenrick et al, 1995;Buunk et al, 2001Buunk et al, , 2002Ní Bhrolcháin & Sigle-Rushton, 2005;Antfolk et al, 2015;Antfolk, 2017).…”

Intra-Sexual Competition and Attitudes towards Immigrants

“…The depicted individuals originated from four different regions: Mexico, Vietnam, Iraq, and West Africa (Nigeria and Cameroon) and were 22-27 years of age. This is an age were individuals are seen as attractive and sexually active (Antfolk et al, 2015, Antfolk, 2017.…”

Finding the Mating Gear – The Development and Validation of a Mate Access Scale

“…Human mate selection has been investigated for decades (e.g., Buss & Barnes, 1986;Symons, 1979;Westermarck, 1891), and, for instance, focused on mating strategies (e.g., Buss & Schmitt, 1993) and mating preferences (e.g., Antfolk, 2017;Kenrick & Keefe, 1992). Still, most of these studies assume that individuals generally enjoy access to a pool of potential mates, and that only personal characteristics or sexual competition limit mating success.…”