Want to fall in love at first sight? Wait until you are 35!

Washington: Want to fall in love at first sight? Wait until you are 35!

Middle-aged people are 46 per cent more likely to believe in love at first sight than those who are younger, according to a new US study. A US dating website asked a wide cross-section of US residents whether they thought falling in love is possible with just one glance. The results show 35- to 44-year-old men and women are the most likely to think true love can happen upon first sight. They are 46 per cent more likely to believe in this concept than men and women aged 18 to 24.

"Americans 35 and up are more likely to believe in love at first sight because they've had more time to experience and evaluate it (and relationships and intimacy in general) and have greater clarity about what love means to them than those under 35," Rachel Dack, DatingAdvice.com's women's dating expert, said. More than three in five Hispanic-Americans said falling in love is possible after only one look, but less than two in five African-Americans said it is, the study found.

One of the most surprising statistics is men are more likely than women to believe in love at first sight (61 per cent compared to 53 per cent, respectively). The study also found that among the least likely groups to approve are singles and high-wage-earners. Singles have a 20 per cent lower likelihood of siding with this belief than divorcees.

The study surveyed 1,080 respondents over the course of three weeks, balancing responses by age, gender, income, race, sexuality and other factors in order to accurately represent the US population.