Age usually shows the highest level of couple similarity among all
personal characteristics (e.g.,Watson et al., 2004). A few studies examined
the link between age discrepancy and satisfaction. Whereas two
studies found that spouse age discrepancy was not an important factor
to satisfaction (Kirkpatrick& Cotton, 1951;Watson et al., 2004), another
suggested that both partners were happier when the husband was older
(Groot & Van Den Brink, 2002). Additional research has linked marriage
age with satisfaction. These studies consistently showed that older marriage
age was related to greater satisfaction later (e.g., Larson & Holman,
1994; Lee, 1977). However, no research has explored the associations
between spouse age discrepancy at marriage and future marital
outcomes.