Single Parent Seeking Single Parent? The Effects of Parental and Previous Relationship Status on Perceptions of Online Dating Profiles

Abstract

Despite limited research on single parent dating, one study found that perceptions of single adults in an online dating profile varied by their gender, number of children, and parental status (Sommer, Plumm, Terrance, & Tubré, 2013). This information may affect perceived desirability and dateability for potential mates. The current study explored the effects of a potential mate's parental and previous relationship status, as well as participant parental status, on the participants’ perceptions of a potential dating partner via an online dating profile. Participants (n = 251), who were single and looking to date, were asked to read a brief ‘About the person’ section of a dating profile and rate how they viewed the person on general positive traits, childrearing ability, family relationships, dating appeal, future investment, and stress. Results indicated that single parents and non-parents alike preferred partners with no children. Additionally, single parents viewed being divorced more positively than single adults who are not parents, whereas single adults with no children viewed the profile with no previous relationship most positively. Future research should focus on the participant's intent for viewing and selecting a mate through the means of online dating.

Demographics, Personality and Substance-Use Characteristics Associated with Forming Romantic Relationships

“…Based on common evolutionary formulations suggesting men to highly value signs of fertility in a potential mate, one may further speculate that having children from a previous relationship could be perceived as a sign of fertility which may make women with children attractive to potential mates, but this tendency is not supported by previous findings. Previous studies have found single parents, and especially women, to be rated as less attractive and to be less likely to repartner, compared to singles without children (Bernhardt and Goldscheider 2002;Plumm et al 2016;Skew et al 2009;Sommer et al 2013). One possible explanation for the discrepancy between the current results and previous ones may be that previous studies mostly focus on attractiveness ratings given to single parents (which is one but not the only factor affecting the likelihood of repartnering).…”

“…Having children from another relationship may signal reproductive capacity and willingness to invest in offspring, but may also suggest that the mother/father has less available resources for a new partner and additional children (Sommer et al 2013). Studies have found that single individuals who have children are rated as less attractive by potential mates and have a lower probability of getting married or finding a new partner (Bernhardt and Goldscheider 2002;Plumm et al 2016;Skew et al 2009;Sommer et al 2013). Single women who have children are further rated as less attractive compared to single men who have children (Sommer et al 2013).…”

“…Those who have children may seek other characteristics in their partner and meet other potential partners, compared to those without children (e.g. be more positive to other single parents) (Plumm et al 2016). Given that few women had children, the ones who did may have less competition regarding their preferred mates, and hence more success in obtaining a partner.…”

I Teach Nursing as a Male Nursing Educator: The East Asian Perspective, Context, and Social Cognitive Career Experiences

“…Some participants suggested that female nurses and practitioners need to balance time between work and family, more so than their male counterparts, due to the social role they are expected to play of caretakers for their family members. Although male professionals should spend an equal amount of time as female professionals on family responsibilities, female professionals tend to contribute additional resources and energy to their families, due to the expected gender roles they have to play in East Asian societies [6,10,18,[54][55][56][57][58]. Based on this characteristic, all participants shared similar ideas and feedback about female professionals and their family responsibilities during the interview sessions.…”

I Want to Become a Registered Nurse as a Non-Traditional, Returning, Evening, and Adult Student in a Community College: A Study of Career-Changing Nursing Students

“…Unlike fresh secondary school graduates and other youths, second-career nurses usually have already acquired decades of working and life experience before joining the nursing education programme at the community colleges. Therefore, they have numerous responsibilities, personal backgrounds, considerations, comparisons, and concerns, from education to social biases and discrimination [64][65][66]. Based on the sharing from the study's participants, many indicated that seeking a college degree would help them to achieve a higher social status that they then could promote as valued skilled professionals for their communities and country [67].…”