title: Relationship goals of middle-aged, young-old, and old-old Internet daters: an analysis of online personal ads.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research on courtship patterns and romantic relationship in later life has not kept pace with the burgeoning number of older adults interested in dating.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted content analyses of themes arising from 450 personal ads written by middle-aged (40-54), young-old (60-74), and old-old (75+) participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences between the young-old and the middle-aged were few; those between the young-old and old-old were numerous. Compared to the old-old, the young-old and middle-aged were more likely to mention adventure, romance, sexual interests, and seeking a soul mate and less likely to mention health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study increases our understanding of relationship goals in later life and highlights the error of treating all older adults as a homogeneous group. Practice and policy can benefit from more nuanced distinctions between age groups and an enhanced recognition of the vibrant emotional, romantic, and sexual lives of older adults.
authors.affiliation: University of California-Berkeley, 630 Bayberry Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, United States. sheyna.alterovitz@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sheyna S R
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Alterovitz
authors.forename: Gerald A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Mendelsohn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003380:Courtship / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012944:Social Support; D013781:Texas; D014861:Washington