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Online dating across the life span: Users' relationship goals
Josephine A Menkin1, Theodore F Robles1, Joshua F Wiley2
1Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles.
Psychology and Aging
|October 20, 2015
Summary
New romantic relationship goals prioritize interpersonal communication over sexual appeal. Age and gender influence goal importance, with women emphasizing communication more than men.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Relationship Science
Background:
- Understanding relationship formation is crucial for relationship science.
- Identifying key goals in new romantic relationships provides insight into partner selection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify prioritized goals for individuals entering new romantic relationships.
- To examine how age and gender influence the importance of these goals.
Main Methods:
- Data collected from an eHarmony.com relationship questionnaire.
- Analysis of responses from 5,434 new users.
Main Results:
- Interpersonal communication was valued more highly than sexual appeal overall.
- Older users rated sexual attraction as less important than younger users.
- Women emphasized communication over sexual attraction more than men.
Conclusions:
- Relationship goal priorities vary by age and gender.
- Communication is a primary goal, with nuanced differences across demographics.
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