Mate preferences in emerging adulthood and beyond: Age variations in mate preferences and beliefs about change in mate preferences

Few studies have considered how mate preferences may differ for individuals at different ages of emerging adulthood and beyond or considered at the same time other individual difference variables beyond sex and age of participant. This survey study of mate preferences ( N = 738) found that participants’ age (from 18 to 40) was associated with lower mate selectivity. This negative association between age and mate selectivity was greater for men than for women. Age continued to be associated with mate selectivity controlling for shyness and perception of available partners—and both of these variables were uniquely associated with mate selectivity (negatively and positively, respectively). This study also examined participants’ beliefs about how the importance of various traits in a partner had changed over time. Overall, the participants perceived no change or a slight increase in their preferences over time, although the perceived change depended on the particular trait domain, sex of the participant, and the other individual difference variables.