EvoS Journal: The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium
Volume 13, Special Issue 1, 2022
Title
Binary and Beyond: Age Preferences in Partner Selection among Bisexual, Gay, and Heterosexual Individuals.
Author(s)
Urska Dobersek, Amie McKibban, & Erika Uebelhor.
Abstract
Sexual selection and its associated mating preferences in human heterosexual populations are well-established. Females tend to be more selective and prefer older mates, whereas males tend to be less selective and seek younger partners. Nevertheless, comparatively few studies examined age preferences in non-heterosexual populations—especially bisexual individuals. To remedy this gap, we explored age preferences and selectivity in bisexual, gay, and heterosexual individuals in a cross-sectional analysis of 1209 individuals. Our results replicated previous findings in sexual selection among heterosexual individuals while offering new data on bisexual populations. Consistent with prior research, heterosexual females preferred older ideal partners and heterosexual males preferred younger ideal partners. Bisexual and gay individuals showed sex-typical preferences, with males valuing younger ideal partners and females valuing older ideal partners. With respect to selectivity, our results provided additional evidence that heterosexual females are more selective with respect to age than heterosexual males and bisexual females.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.59077/OPKR8359
How to cite this article:
Dobersek, U., McKibban, A., & Uebelhor, E. (2023). Binary and beyond: Age preferences in partner selection among bisexual, gay, and heterosexual individuals. The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium, 13, Sp. Iss. (1), 16-41.
