Early Psychosocial Stress Affects Men's Relationship Length

Abstract

Life history theory predicts that the optimal reproductive strategy for individuals in risky and uncertain environments (subjectively experienced as early psychosocial stress) is to maximize current reproduction to minimize the chances of lineage extinction. Having many short-term relationships and many lifetime sex partners are ways to maximize current reproduction, but they come at a cost (e.g., decreased resources for future reproduction, decreased desirability as a future mate, etc.). This study, therefore, examined whether sexually active individuals with high levels of early psychosocial stress report more terminated short-term relationships, a shorter relationship length with their current partner, and more lifetime sex partners than those with less early psychosocial stress. Early psychosocial stress in men was associated with more terminated short-term relationships and a greater number of lifetime sex partners, but not with current relationship length; in women, high early psychosocial stress was associated with shorter current relationship length but not with the number of terminated short-term relationships or number of lifetime sex partners. Results are discussed from the perspective of life history theory and gender differences in preferences for short- and long-term relationships.

Acknowledgments

Preparation of this manuscript was supported by the University Whitfeld Fellowship (The University of Western Australia) awarded to Nicole Koehler.

Notes

^a The studies cited did not distinguish between abuse by household and non-household members. However, this distinction was made because the effects of sexual abuse are more severe if the abuser was close to the child (e.g., father) than less close (Kendall-Tackett, Williams, & Finkelhor, 1993).

Note. Only one question or rating took place per category unless indicated by listing specific questions beneath the category. Ratings below four were classified as the absence of the stressor, whereas ratings between four and seven were classified as the presence of the stressor. Please note the “absence” of a stressor includes blank and non-applicable responses.

Note. Descriptive stastistics are based on the number of partners sexually active women (n = 155) and men (n = 92) had for each relationship duration excluding the relationship length with their current partner where applicable.

Note. Mean differences in the number of past sexual relationships per relationship length are shown for women and men in the low and high levels of total early psychosocial groups without (df women: 1, 153; men: 1, 90) and with (df women: 1, 152; men: 1, 89) participants' ages at the time of the questionnaire entered as a covariate. All p values are two-tailed. Note that the significance of results reported is largely unaffected by controlling for age at the time of the questionnaire.

This article was submitted for publication under the Editorship of John DeLamater.