Romantic and dating behaviors among single parents in the United States

doi:10.1111/PERE.12139

Paper

Romantic and dating behaviors among single parents in the United States

Published Sep 1, 2016 · P. Gray, Carol Y. Franco, Justin R. Garcia

Personal Relationships

Q1 SJR score

13

Citations

0

Influential Citations

Full textSemantic Scholar

Abstract

Little research has focused on the dating attitudes and behaviors of singles with dependent-age children. Using data collected from a nationally representative U.S. probability sample of single adults, we provide findings on dating attitudes and behaviors among 747 single parents in the United States, aged 21 years and older, who had one or more children under the age of 18 years. Findings show gender differences between single men and single women concerning how they balance being a single parent and make time for dating. Both single fathers and single mothers considered their child's opinion about their dating life, and most parents involved their child(ren) once they knew they wanted or had established a committed romantic relationship with a new partner.

Observational Study

Study Snapshot

Single parents with dependent-age children in the U.S. show gender differences in balancing parenting and dating, with both genders considering their child's opinion in their dating life.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

Sign up to use Study Snapshot

Consensus is limited without an account. Create an account or sign in to get more searches and use the Study Snapshot.

Create an account

Paper

Romantic and dating behaviors among single parents in the United States

Sign up to use Study Snapshot

References

Relationship Dealbreakers

Relationship dealbreakers are undesirable personality traits, unhealthy lifestyles, and divergent mating strategies that people avoid in partners, with stronger effects in long-term relationships and for women.

Dating and Sexual Behavior Among Single Parents of Young Children in the United States

Single parents with a child aged five or younger report greater frequency of sexual activity and first dates, but no differences in other outcomes compared to single parents with older children.

A Not-So-Grim Tale: How Childhood Family Structure Influences Reproductive and Risk-Taking Outcomes in a Historical U.S. Population

Childhood family structure influences life outcomes, with single mother or mother-stepfather households often leading to faster life progression and greater risk-taking behaviors.

The Development of Human Reproductive Strategies

Evolutionary thinking reveals that environmental factors influence human reproductive strategies, with fathers playing a unique role and individuals' susceptibility to rearing influences varying.

Aging and Human Sexual Behavior: Biocultural Perspectives – A Mini-Review

Human aging and sexual behavior are influenced by the sociocultural context in which individuals express their sexuality, with age-related declines in sexual behavior often affecting both partners in long-term relationships.

An Evolutionary Analysis of Variation in Parental Effort: Determinants and Assessment

Evolutionary theory can guide the development of new Parental Effort Scales to better understand and assess parental effort, enhancing coparenting assessment methods.

Impact of fathers on risky sexual behavior in daughters: A genetically and environmentally controlled sibling study

Girls receiving lower quality paternal investment engage in more risky sexual behavior, while differential sibling exposure to family disruption/father absence is not associated with RSB.

Family Structure Transitions and Changes in Maternal Resources and Well-being

Transitions to cohabitation or marriage with a child's biological father can reduce material hardship, while exiting cohabiting or marital relationships can increase material hardship, depression, and parenting stress.

Citations

Exploring patterns in mental health treatment and interests of single adults in the United States: a secondary data analysis

A minority of single adults in the United States utilize mental health treatment, highlighting the need for targeted outreach, personalized treatment plans, enhanced provider training, and policy advocacy for equitable access to mental healthcare.

Swiping as a Single Mom: A First Look at the Experiences of Single Mothers Who Use Tinder

Single mothers use Tinder for freedom, entertainment, eroticism, intimacy, and a desired identity, as well as its popularity, experimentation, and quick temporality, allowing them to access opportunities and synchronize complex schedules.

Family processes and structure: Longitudinal influences on adolescent disruptive and internalizing behaviors

Positive parent-child relationships predict lower rates of adolescent maladaptive behavior across various family structures, challenging the assumption that children do better in two-parent households.

Dating and sexualities across the life course: The interactive effects of aging and gender.

Men remain active in the dating and sexual marketplace longer than women, and gender differences in attitudes and behaviors surrounding partnering shrink or disappear across the life course.

The intergenerational transmission of partnering

The intergenerational transmission of partnering may be driven by the transmission of poor marriageable characteristics and relationship skills from mothers to their children.

Why Men Stay Single? Evidence from Reddit

Men stay single due to poor flirting skills, low self-confidence, poor looks, shyness, low effort, and bad experiences from previous relationships, supporting the evolutionary theory.