The age old question as to why men fall for women so much younger than themselves may have been answered by new research, which puts this trend down to an evolutionary trait.
The study found that men favour women six years their junior, while women are most likely to have children with men four years older than them
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The evolutionary justification is based on the practice of progeny: men choosing younger wives to increase their chances of having children.
The pattern can also be observed in second marriages.
Here, men again choose a wife younger than themselves. Women, however, opt for husbands younger than their previous partner, but older than themselves.
Martin Fielder, lead author of the study, is quoted by the Telegraph as saying: "These findings may account for the phenomenon that men typically prefer and mate with women younger than themselves, whereas women usually desire and mate with men older than themselves.
"We conclude that the age preference for the partner increases individual fitness of both men and women, and may thus be an evolutionary acquired trait."
