TY - JOUR
T1 - Settling down without settling
T2 - Perceived changes in partner preferences in response to COVID-19
AU - Alexopoulos, Cassandra
AU - Timmermans, Elisabeth
AU - Sharabi, Liesel L.
AU - Roaché, David J.
AU - Croft, Alyssa
AU - Hall, Elizabeth Dorrance
AU - James-Hawkins, Laurie
AU - Lamarche, Veronica
AU - Uhlich, Maximiliane
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - The goal of this study was to explore the positive association between concern related to COVID-19 and single individuals’ perceived changes to their partner preferences. In addition, we investigated the mediating role of fear of being single. Results indicated that people with greater COVID-19 concern perceived an increase in the importance of stability, family commitment, and physical/social attractiveness, as well as fear of being single. Fear of being single only negatively predicted the importance of physical/social attractiveness, whereas it positively predicted the importance of stability and family commitment. Thus, in most cases, people with a greater concern for COVID-19 perceived themselves to become more selective, even when they exhibit higher levels of fear of being single.
AB - The goal of this study was to explore the positive association between concern related to COVID-19 and single individuals’ perceived changes to their partner preferences. In addition, we investigated the mediating role of fear of being single. Results indicated that people with greater COVID-19 concern perceived an increase in the importance of stability, family commitment, and physical/social attractiveness, as well as fear of being single. Fear of being single only negatively predicted the importance of physical/social attractiveness, whereas it positively predicted the importance of stability and family commitment. Thus, in most cases, people with a greater concern for COVID-19 perceived themselves to become more selective, even when they exhibit higher levels of fear of being single.
KW - COVID-19
KW - fear of being single
KW - mate selection
KW - partner preferences
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105478039&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85105478039&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/02654075211011527
DO - 10.1177/02654075211011527
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85105478039
SN - 0265-4075
VL - 38
SP - 1901
EP - 1919
JO - Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
JF - Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
IS - 6
ER -