A recent study reveals the secret for couples to live happily after 60

To live happily, let's live apart! According to a joint study by Lancaster University and the University of London, a growing number of seniors are choosing to stay in a relationship without sharing a roof. This lifestyle, still marginal but growing rapidly, is challenging our traditional ideas about lasting love... and could well offer a concrete solution to marital unhappiness at an age when we think we've figured it all out.

Living Apart Together (LAT), a trend that appeals to people over 60

The concept of "Living Apart Together" (LAT), or "living together separately," refers to couples involved in a romantic relationship while living in two separate homes. According to the British study, this lifestyle affects approximately 4% of couples in the UK. This figure is still modest, but is increasing significantly among those over 60, particularly women. Contrary to popular belief, this arrangement is not just a temporary solution for long-distance relationships or the beginnings of romance: among seniors, it is increasingly becoming a genuine lifestyle choice.

The benefits of LAT are numerous, especially when you've already lived a life of compromise . It allows you to preserve your autonomy, your bearings, your routines, your space, but also to reduce tensions and avoid legal complications in the event of a breakup. The study also points to a significant improvement in mental health among people involved in a LAT relationship.

A more egalitarian model, especially for women

Marriage, as it is still often experienced, benefits men more. The women over 60 interviewed in the study say that living separately allows them to free themselves from the mental burden , domestic tasks and the role of "natural caregiver" that is often assigned to them. In a LAT couple, love is experienced differently: without sacrificing oneself, without forgetting oneself, without giving up one's personal aspirations. A model that particularly appeals to those who have already experienced a divorce or a burdensome conventional couple life.

Naturally, this lifestyle presents drawbacks and obstacles. Paying for and maintaining two homes isn't affordable for everyone, and geographic proximity remains crucial for many lovebirds. And, above all, this type of relationship rests on a solid foundation of trust and transparency. It's not an escape from the couple, but a redefinition of its contours.