Marital satisfaction often peaks in old age as couples transition to companionate love

Contrary to the myth that long marriages inevitably grow stale, marital satisfaction often reaches its highest levels after the age of 65. This phenomenon is driven by a transition into 'companionate love,' where the focus shifts from sexual intensity to deep commitment and mutual equity. A 1980s study of long-term couples found that while social networks often shrink by 50% in old age, the quality of the primary attachment becomes a more potent buffer against stress.