The Effect of Parent-Child Relationships on Choice of Intimate Partners

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which parent-child relationships during the critical period of sexual development predict intimate partner selection among college students. The current study was designed to elaborate on previous research regarding intimate partner selection. This study aims to explore the degree to which college students choose partners  for sexual and romantic relationships who are similar to their parental figures in physical and personality traits, depending on the gender of the student and the parent, parenting styles, and attachment to parent, and whether the partner choice was for a long-term or short-term relationship.  Union students between the ages of 17 and 23 completed an online survey that included measures of parental bonding, parenting style, and personality and physical traits of parents and recent partners in short-term and long-term relationships.