The effects of ideal standards and parental approval on mate choice among emerging adults

Güvensoy, İpek and Erdem, Gizem (2022) The effects of ideal standards and parental approval on mate choice among emerging adults. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships . ISSN 0265-4075 (Print) 1460-3608 (Online) Published Online First https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/02654075221114029

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Abstract

The current study examines how ideal standards and parental approval interplay in the decision to marry via three consecutive studies among Turkish emerging adults. The first study explored desirable traits for a potential spouse, and participants (N = 309) rated and rank-ordered 56 traits. Findings revealed that trustworthiness, honesty, and loyalty were the most desired traits. Informed by the first study’s findings, we designed vignettes, tested their validity via three pilot studies, and finalized scenarios for the experimental study. In Study 2 (N = 331), we recruited highly liberal (secular) emerging adults and randomly assigned them to one of the four experimental conditions (2x2 design; ideal standards high vs. low, parents approve vs. disapprove). Each participant read a vignette about a potential partner and responded whether they would be willing to marry that person (yes or no). Analysis revealed that participants were 13.93 times [CI (6.40, 30.32)] more willing to marry a partner who met ideal standards and 4.24 times [CI (1.93, 9.30)] more willing if the parents approved the partner. Study 3 replicated Study 2 with a conservative sample, using the same experimental design and vignettes. We recruited participants through theology departments and online religious groups (N = 484). Main effects of both having an ideal partner [OR = 5.00, CI (2.62, 9.54)] and parental approval [OR = 4.00, CI (2.12, 7.53)] were significant as well as the interaction term [OR= 7.38, CI (2.32, 23.51)]. The current study highlights the importance of parental approval and ideal standards on marriage decisions among secular and conservative emerging adults.
Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Emerging adulthood; ideal standards; marital decision; mate choice; parental influence; partner preferences
Divisions: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences > Academic programs > Psychology
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Depositing User: İpek Güvensoy
Date Deposited: 20 Aug 2022 14:30
Last Modified: 20 Aug 2022 14:30
URI: https://research.sabanciuniv.edu/id/eprint/44275

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