Don’t Mind the Gap

Age Gap Dating: How Do Cougar Life Members and the American Public Feel About It?

Age gap dating is shrouded in misconception — especially when it comes to older women dating younger men. To shed light on what it really means to be in and desire a female-led age gap relationship, dating site Cougar Life surveyed its members and the general American population on the benefits, stigma, and joy of older women/younger men partnerships. These are their findings.

The Benefits of Age Gap Relationships

Regardless of your current relationship status, which of the following, if any, would you personally consider a benefit for dating or marrying someone…

“Women from the American public reported the primary benefit of dating younger would be open-mindedness and free spirit of their younger partners. However, women who use Cougar Life reported they feel most benefited by the sexual energy and attractiveness of their younger partners. This tells us women who use Cougar Life aren’t afraid to defy conventional dating standards for mature women. They are empowered to make choices in the service of sexual pleasure rather than feeling the need to conform to societal rules that tell us pleasure is only for men.”
Dr. Sarah E. Hill
Psychologist and professor with expertise in women and sex

The Social Stigma Around
Age Gap Relationships

Have Cougar Life members experienced judgment
for being in an age gap relationship?


Who have they experienced judgment from?

Who has been the most judgmental about them
being in or wanting an age gap relationship?

Age Does Not Define Beauty

Do Cougar Life Members Agree?

“Whether someone believes women are more beautiful at older ages now than in the past gives insight into the degree to which they believe female beauty is tied to youth. These results tell us women who use Cougar Life do not believe beauty is tied to their youth and are more sexually empowered than the average woman. The results also show men think older women can be just as sexy as younger women — and that they always have been. It’s clear women and men who use Cougar Life believe female beauty is timeless.”
Dr. Sarah E. Hill
Psychologist and professor with expertise in women and sex

What are you looking for on Cougar Life?

What is your preferred dating age gap?

Do you think celebrity age gap relationships have made it more acceptable to date an older or younger partner?

These are the findings of two surveys:
Cougar Life survey of 578 members between August 24, 2022 and October 27, 2022.
Ipsos poll conducted between May 5-6, 2022. For this survey, a sample of 1,005 adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. The poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points for all respondents.

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