Settling down without settling: Perceived changes in partner preferences in response to COVID-19

C Alexopoulos; Elisabeth Timmermans; L L Sharabi; D J Roaché; A Croft; E Dorrance Hall; L James-Hawkins; V Lamarche; M Uhlich

doi:10.1177/02654075211011527

Settling down without settling: Perceived changes in partner preferences in response to COVID-19

C Alexopoulos^*, Elisabeth Timmermans, L L Sharabi, D J Roaché, A Croft, E Dorrance Hall, L James-Hawkins, V Lamarche, M Uhlich

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Media and Communication

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1901-1919
Number of pages	19
Journal	Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
Volume	38
Issue number	6
Early online date	3 May 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075211011527
Publication status	Published - Jun 2021

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Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021.

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title = "Settling down without settling: Perceived changes in partner preferences in response to COVID-19",

abstract = "The goal of this study was to explore the positive association between concern related to COVID-19 and single individuals{\textquoteright} 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.",

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AU - Alexopoulos, C

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AU - Sharabi, L L

AU - Roaché, D J

AU - Croft, A

AU - Dorrance Hall, E

AU - James-Hawkins, L

AU - Lamarche, V

AU - Uhlich, M

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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.

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Settling down without settling: Perceived changes in partner preferences in response to COVID-19

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