The Age At Which Men Finally Mature, According To Research
Hint: It's much later than women.
Syda Productions | Canva | Juanmonino | Getty Images Signature Ladies, if you've ever found yourself questioning your man's maturity level, it seems that there may be a scientific reason behind it after all.
Reported on by The Telegraph, a 2013 study suggested that the average period of life in which a woman matures is age 32 — a full 11 years before men do, at age 43.
Women really do mature faster than men, says the most obvious study ever
Now, this is just an average, and some people may never fully mature. But if you're wondering why your guy still thinks bathroom humor is the epitome of hilarity, well, it might simply be because he's less mature. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing!
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Men and women involved in the study had their own opinions about it. For example, men were nearly twice as likely to describe themselves as being immature as women were. One in four men believed that they were "actively immature," which they probably either thought was a silly notion that might cause a laugh or a very mature response in which they acknowledged their immaturity.
Do you think that you're the "mature" one in your relationship? Turns out the women involved in the study were also two times more likely to feel that they were the grown-up between them and their significant other.
Research has shown that girls mature faster than boys during childhood.
The VP Director of Programming for Nickelodeon U.K., Tim Patterson, was the one who initiated the study. As a man who helps make cartoons for a living, he wondered if men ever really "grow up." He was quoted as saying, "As a man, especially one who works for a children's channel, the question of men ever reaching maturity is one I am well accustomed to."
In the context of this survey leaning more towards a well-placed marketing initiative for a Nickelodeon show, it's easy to think that the results aren't quite as scientifically driven as they could be. However, the concept that men mature much more slowly than women has been widely studied, and it's a common finding, starting as early as childhood.
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A 2013 study found that brain connectivity in childhood and adolescence is different for boys and girls, which is likely why the two genders mature at different rates. Basically, the brain streamlines its connections at different stages of life, and girls' brains start streamlining a lot faster than boys' brains. Most parents and teachers would probably say, "Didn't need a study for that." But it's fascinating to realize that it's not simply caused by societal influence.
I always thought that because girls were expected to take on more responsibility at a younger age, that played a major role in why boys had a slower start, but this study indicates that maybe that's only partially true. The fact is, we are an amalgamation of everything from biological markers to social influences, and they all work together to, well, make us who we are. They also play into the fact that men find burping and flatulence hilarious, well past the time when those things are still funny!
Women in the study say they repeatedly felt the need to remind their partners to 'act their age.'
These U.K. ladies had many of the same woes that women around the world have with their men. Some of the biggest issues they named were men finding gas and burping absolutely hysterical, driving too fast, eating fast food at 2 a.m., and playing too many video games.
Just about three in 10 women admitted to ending a relationship due to not being able to put up with their immature guy's shenanigans, and around 46% of women had been in a relationship where they had to mother their partner more than they felt comfortable doing so. According to the study, the average English woman also has to remind her man to "act his age" more than once per month, which totals out to around 14 times a year. Wow.
The good news for those of us who haven't quite reached the pinnacle of maturation yet? About one in 4 people believe that immaturity is healthy for a relationship since it helps keep things fun. And one in three people found it an important part of bonding with children.
So ladies, if you think your man is a bit less mature than you'd like, or you're the one laughing at rude words, then don't fear. Use that immaturity for what it was intended: having fun.
Merethe Najjar is a professional writer, editor, and award-winning fiction author. Her articles have been featured in The Aviator Magazine, Infinite Press, Yahoo, BRIDES, and more.
