Physical criteria for mate selection in college students of Tehran universities

The purpose of this research was inquiry of students’ criteria for mate selection (specially physical and bodily criteria) and comparing these criteria in males and females, single or married students in different ages. The study sample included 1126 subjects (432 males and 694 females) selected via available sampling from undergraduate and graduate students as well as Ph.D. candidates who were studying in universities of Tehran city (Tehran, Shahed, Shahid Beheshti, Tarbiyat-e-Modarres, Al-Zahra, Elm-o-Farhang Universities and Tehran branches of Islamic Azad University). The participants were assessed employing researcher-designed questionnaire of inquiry of physical and bodily criteria for mate selection. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and χ2 test.The findings of this research showed that the criteria for mate selection among females and males, belonging to different age groups, were significantly different in regard of couples’ age difference, physical attractiveness, and bodily criteria. Whereas about %73 of males believed that their partner should be younger than themselves, %95 of females preferred their partner to be older. Females preferred men with brunette skin, long noses and pretty tall while male preferred women with white skin, small noses and medium height. Findings of this study showed that gender and age have important roles in physical criteria for mate selection among students. Most of the students believed that wives should be younger than husbands. Like other studies, physical attractiveness has important role in mate selection.