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Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World
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Published on: April 7, 2020

Assortative mating in morningness-eveningness.

Christoph Randler1, Stefanie Kretz

  • 1University of Education Heidelberg, Germany. randler@ph-heidelberg.de

International Journal of Psychology : Journal International De Psychologie
|November 3, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Partners often share similar circadian preferences, influencing mate selection. This study suggests that assortative mating in morningness-eveningness is likely due to initial partner selection rather than relationship changes.

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Area of Science:

  • Chronobiology
  • Behavioral Science
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Individual differences in circadian preference, or morningness-eveningness, are a recognized aspect of personality.
  • Assortative mating, the tendency for individuals to select partners with similar traits, is well-documented in personality research.
  • However, assortative mating specifically concerning circadian preference has been infrequently investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the extent of assortative mating in circadian preference among couples.
  • To explore the relationship between circadian preference similarity and relationship duration and satisfaction.
  • To determine if observed similarities are due to initial partner selection or relationship convergence.

Main Methods:

  • Eighty-four couples completed the Composite Scale of Morningness.
  • Participants provided data on weekday and weekend rise times and bedtimes.
  • Statistical analyses were used to assess correlations between partners' circadian preferences and relationship variables.

Main Results:

  • A moderate positive correlation was found between partners' morningness-eveningness scores, even after adjusting for age.
  • Significant correlations were observed between partners' sleep-wake times (rise and bedtimes), particularly on weekends.
  • No significant correlation was found between the length of the relationship and the degree of dissimilarity in morningness-eveningness, nor between dissimilarity and relationship satisfaction.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that assortative mating in circadian preference is probable and likely stems from initial partner selection.
  • The study posits that shared chronotypes may facilitate initial encounters and mating.
  • Dissimilarity in circadian preference may reduce the probability of partners meeting due to differing activity schedules.