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.
Highlights
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
Because fear of being single has been associated with romantic loneliness and unmet needs for belonging (Adamczyk, 2018), fear of being single may be sensitive to environmental stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, during which restrictions related to socializing have been enforced
A second goal of this study is to examine the role of fear of being single as a mediator linking concerns related to COVID-19 and perceived changes in preferences when seeking a long-term romantic partner
Summary
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. 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. Researchers have explored the predictive value of one’s fear of being single in the context of partner preferences, which describes the desire to obtain a romantic relationship and avoid singledom (Spielmann et al, 2013). A second goal of this study is to examine the role of fear of being single as a mediator linking concerns related to COVID-19 and perceived changes in preferences when seeking a long-term romantic partner. Women with aspirations to prioritize their career over building a family were more likely to indicate a preference for a potential mate with similar aspirations (Croft et al, 2020)
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