If you subscribe to the “rule of seven,” the question of where the boundaries of a socially acceptable relationship lie arent a matter of opinion—theyre clearly defined. According to the rule, the age of the younger partner (regardless of gender) should be no less than seven more than half the older partners age.

Is 7 years a big age difference in a relationship?

The Ideal Age Gap in Relationships Likewise, couples with a four- to six-year gap showed greater satisfaction than those with a seven-plus year gap. In general, marital satisfaction decreased as the age difference increased.