The Scent of Mating Strategy: Sociosexual Orientation Might Influence Body Odor Sniffing Behavior Through Subjective Importance of Olfaction in Chinese and American Populations

Abstract

Human sexuality and mating behaviors have been linked to the subjective importance of olfaction and body odor in one’s life; however, the relationship among these factors has not been fully explored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationships between sociosexual orientation, subjective importance of olfaction, and body odor sniffing behavior, and to determine whether there is cultural consistency. A total of 1,904 Chinese college students (Study 1) and additional 861 participants from more general population (410 Chinese and 451 Americans) (Study 2) completed three questionnaires measuring sociosexual orientation, subjective importance of olfaction, and body odor sniffing behavior, respectively. The results of Study 1 indicated a significant association between sociosexual orientation, subjective importance of olfaction, and body odor sniffing behavior for both males and females. Besides, the subjective importance of olfaction mediated the relationship between sociosexual orientation and body odor sniffing behavior. The results of Study 2 suggested that the relationships between sociosexual orientation, subjective importance of olfaction, and body odor sniffing behavior were consistent across cultures. To conclude, this research highlights the significant association between sociosexual orientation, subjective importance of olfaction, and body odor sniffing behavior, which exhibited consistency across genders and cultural backgrounds. These findings provide valuable insights into the role of human mating strategies in olfaction.