According to a new study by Ipsos, many American adults have engaged in relationships with an age-gap of 10+ years. Researchers surveyed 1,210 adults along with 201 men that have dated women 10+ years younger than them and 207 women that have dated men 10+ years older than them. They found that people rate physical attractiveness and sexual energy as top benefits of dating someone older. Almost half, 49 percent, of the Americans ages 35-54 are more likely to list physical attractiveness as a benefit of dating or marrying someone younger. Researchers also found that emotional maturity and financial freedom were top benefits of dating someone older. Men and women, both 59 percent, are most likely to consider emotional maturity as a benefit of dating or marrying someone older. When it comes to sexual satisfaction, 79 percent of men and 57 percent of women surveyed said they would rate their sexual fulfillment as "excellent" when dating someone 10+ years older than them.

Relationships with significant age gaps are becoming more and more popular and are seen often in media. There are countless movies that portray age hypogamy, or vice versa. For example, Anne Hathaway's recent film "The Idea of You" featured a millennial woman getting into a relationship with a younger Gen Z man. The film's subplot shows the couple's challenges navigating the relationship with their age gap. On the other hand, films such as "Pretty Woman" shows Richard Gere, an older man, going for younger woman Julia Roberts.

Many people wonder what the appeal is to dating someone significantly younger or older than them. According to StudyFinds, older women enjoy dating younger men because they make them feel secure in their relationship. One 28-year-old woman said, "Women my age seem to be excited by the freshness and lack of bitterness that comes with dating someone younger. Younger men seem more open and less burdened by insecurities." On the other hand, younger men enjoy dating older women because they take the relationship more seriously. "I often find women are much more evolved when it comes to relationships and emotional depth and actually expressing feelings. The age difference on top of that means I take a relationship more seriously and grow [more]."