Mate-value and relationship satisfaction: The moderating roles of mate retention behaviors

Abstract

Previous research indicates that mate retention strategies are associated with mate value and affect relationship satisfaction. The current research aimed to replicate previous findings in a non-WEIRD society (Iran) and to extend this research by investigating the moderating roles of individual and coalitional mate retention. Participants (n = 754; 416 women) in a committed, heterosexual relationship from two independent samples reported (1) their relationship satisfaction, (2) their partner’s mate value, (3) the frequency of performing individual mate retention, and (4) the frequency of requesting coalitional mate retention. Results indicated that there were positive associations between mate value, individual and coalitional Benefit-Provisioning mate retention behaviors, and relationship satisfaction. We found negative associations between individual and coalitional Cost-Inflicting mate retention behaviors and relationship satisfaction. We found that mate retention moderated the relationship between mate value and relationship satisfaction. Limitations of the current study are noted, and future directions are discussed.

Multifaceted effects of promotion focus on marital outcomes under mate value discrepancy

“…Given that the works cited in this paper mainly involve Western samples, data from Korean participants may have yielded different outcomes. Indeed, cultural and ecological differences have been theorized to impact the degree and characteristics of people's mate‐related behaviors (e.g., Babaeizad et al, 2022). Moreover, people from highly interdependent cultures tend to be more chronically prevention focused than those from independent cultures, which opens up the possibility of cultural differences in our findings.…”

Does Domestic Violence Decrease as Women Age? Understanding the Patterns of Domestic Violence in India

“…Mate value comprises one's self-perceived desirability and relative standing in the mating market for a potential romantic partner (Travers, 2019), and is a strong predictor of satisfaction in a relationship (Babaeizad, 2022). In their research, Buss and Duntley (2011) explain how mate value discrepancies can arise due to errors of selection through deceiving about false resource-holding potential, children from previous relationships, and aggressive or unstable personality dispositions.…”