Page 11 - You Magazine – Issue 1

they were much younger, and that many were looking for a partner much younger than themselves.
“Some participants also thought that online dating was embarrassing, or something
that you only did if you couldn’t meet a partner in ‘real life’, so there was still some stigma surrounding it. These participants tended to want to meet partners in ‘real life’ situations, such as through friends or social groups.”
Yet no matter what their method of meeting a prospective partner,
it seems seniors share many of the same desires as those aged under 65 when it comes to getting to know a new companion.
In keeping with their younger counterparts, the Australian Seniors survey revealed the majority of seniors sought to remain free to ‘play the field’ until they found the right person (63 per cent). Just over half (55 per cent) admitted they would consider dating someone considerably younger than themselves.
The survey also revealed that more than two in five dating seniors say they have met or made new friends via dating websites. Of these, more than one in five
say they would now consider the people they met as close friends. Another interesting insight
from the 2019 survey was the fact three in four participants felt physical intimacy was an important part of dating.
While seven in 10 were happy to kiss on a first date, just under half (46 per cent) believed greater physical intimacy should not be explored until they had met with a prospective partner on at least three separate occasions.
Dr Fileborn says it is clear that no matter how they discover their potential partners, for a majority of older people, love and sexual intimacy remain very important in their lives.
She noted, however, this was not the case for everyone.
“It’s important to acknowledge that the importance of love
and intimacy shifts across the
life course based on a range
of contextual factors that are
not necessarily related to age – stress, illness, family challenges, or the ending of a relationship, for example. All have the potential
to impact how important intimacy is at any particular time regardless of our age.”
What are seniors looking for in a prospective partner?
A sense of humour
83%
Companionship
78%
Similar interests
61%
An interesting personality
74%
Physical attraction
68%
Stability and reliability in the relationship itself
66%
Source: The Australian Seniors Series: Modern Dating Report.
You MAY 2020 11