大齡單身上網求愛盛行
Any lingering stigmaabout finding true love online seems to be fading, particularly among older adults, researchers found.
一項研究發現，在網上尋找真愛似乎已經不再是一件令人羞愧的事，尤其是對於大齡成年人而言。
In a study of 175 newlywed couples scientists at Iowa State University said those who met through online dating agencies, or social networking sites, tended to be older than other couples who met through traditional ways offline.
艾奧瓦州立大學的一組研究人員對175對新婚夫婦開展的研究發現，通過在線交友網站或社交網站結識的夫婦通常比通過傳統的“線下”方式結識的夫婦年齡大。
They were also less likely to be marrying for the first time and had shorter courtships before tying the knot-- 18.5 months instead of 42 months.
此外，他們是初婚的機率較小，而且在結婚前談戀愛的時間也較短，僅爲18.5個月，而傳統的談戀愛時間是42個月。
"In many cases, there are real structural forces that encourage the support and use of these technologies," said Alicia Cast, an associate professor of sociology at the university.
艾奧瓦州立大學社會學副教授艾莉西亞 卡斯特說：“在很多情況下，真實存在的‘結構性力量’促進了人們對這些技術的支持和使用。”
"And one of them is just structural constraints on people's time -- such as people who have kids, or have full-time jobs, or work long or extensive hours," she added in a statement.
她在一項聲明中說：“其中一種力量就是人們時間上的結構性限制，比如有孩子、全職工作或工作時間較長的人。”
But the online spouses were as attractive, intelligent and had the same self-esteem levels of the offline couples.
不過，通過網絡結識的配偶和在現實中尋得的一樣迷人、聰慧、有自尊。
Online dating agencies have gained in popularity and acceptability. A recent survey by that named New York as the best U.S. city for singles found it achieved the No. 1 position because it has more people with active online dating accounts than any other city in the country.
如今，在線交友網站的受歡迎程度和接受程度越來越高。近日由福布斯網站開展的一項調查評選紐約爲美國最佳單身城市，因爲紐約擁有活躍在線交友帳號的人比美國其他任何城市都要多。
"My understanding is that there are very few studies that have been able to simultaneously get access to a source of couples who met through more conventional means, along with those who choose to meet people online," said Cast.
卡斯特說：“現在很少有研究能同時獲得通過傳統渠道和通過網絡渠道結識的夫婦的兩手資料。”
