Implicit Theories of the Marital Institution and Partner Characteristics Preferences of Iranian Young Adults

Implicit Theories of the Marital Institution (ITMI) represent beliefs about whether marriage is a fixed or malleable relationship form. ITMI can influence moderate associations between related constructs such as marital beliefs and mate preferences. The current study tested for associations among certain beliefs about marriage (i.e., that roles should be gendered, that a marriage requires substantial effort), preferred characteristics in long-term mates (i.e., the KASER model of mate preferences), and ITMI. A sample of 588 young adults in Iran completed an anonymous survey focused on the constructs of interest. Gender was accounted for in all analyses given the relevance of gender in predominant mate-selection scholarship. Results indicated that the Fixed and Malleable ITMI were unexpectedly positively correlated. Regression analyses identified several interaction effects between marital beliefs and the preferred mate characteristics and a few marital beliefs by ITMI by gender interactions. Findings are explored in light of cultural context and implications for future research.