Investigation of the relationship between individual's attachment style and mate selection

Attachment is defined as the deep and enduring emotional bond that an individual who is born in need of care creates towards people who meet their needs and are important to the individual. The attachment style that develops in the early stages of life is transferred to adulthood without much change. It is thought that attachment style will also affect the mate selection. In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between the individual's attachment style and the mate selection. Research data were collected online from participants due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Participants participated in the study on a voluntary basis. The data collection tools used within the scope of the study are; The Sociodemographic Information Form, The Inventory of Mate Selection Strategies and The Relationship Scales Questionnaire. Volunteer participants were asked to fill out a "Sociodemographic Information Form" in order to learn their sociodemographic characteristics. The data obtained during the research process were analyzed using the IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 21.0 package program. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between the scales and their sub-dimensions. While examining the relationships between sub-dimensions and demographic data, independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA test were used under the assumption of normal distribution. Within the scope of the research, a total of 396 participants, 202 (51.0%) women and 194 (49.0%) men, who answered the sociodemographic information form and survey questions, were studied. Individuals between the ages of 19-27 participated in the research the most. According to the results of the analysis, attachment styles and mate selection strategies differed significantly by gender. Between the attachment style sub-dimensions of the Relationship Scales Questionnaire and the Mate Selection Strategies Inventory (MSSI) sub-dimensions were found significant relationships. While it was observed that there was a statistically significant, positive, moderate relationship between 'secure attachment' and MSSI's 'religious-political similarity' and also 'socioeconomic level' sub-dimensions, it was determined that there was a statistically significant, positive, moderate or good relationship between 'preoccupied, fearful, indifferent attachment' and MSSI's 'family institution and trust', 'physical characteristics' and 'love' sub-dimensions. Based on the findings of our study, it can be said that there is a relationship with attachment styles of individual and individuals' mate selection strategies. In this direction, parental relationships which already have very important place in an individual's life and the importance of healthy attachment patterns established with parents, in the life and choices of the individual has been seen again. It is thought that it would be beneficial to study with larger samples in similar studies to be conducted.