Mate preference profiles in parent-child dyads: Implications of parenting styles and parent-child relationship

This study explored the profiles of the congruence and incongruence between adult children’s mate preferences and parents’ in-law preferences, as well as how parenting and parent-child relationship quality predicted these profiles. We recruited 299 Chinese parent-child dyads, with adult children aged 18–29. Participants completed self-reported measures on (perceived) parenting styles, parent-child relationship quality. Adult children reported their mate preferences, while parents reported in-law preferences. We used latent profile analysis to classify profiles based on the combination of adult children’s mate preferences and parents’ in-law preferences, identifying five subgroups: Congruent-Low Standards, Incongruent-Parent Idealist, Congruent-Resource De-emphasis, Congruent-Resource Emphasis, and Incongruent-Child Gene Emphasis. The predictors of both parents’ and children’s (perceived) parenting styles, and parent-child relationship quality differed across the profiles. This study provided initial exploration of the profiles of parent-child congruence and incongruence in adult children’s mate preferences, shedding light on the associations between these profiles and parenting and parent-child relationship quality. We further discussed the practical implications of the findings.