Abstract Purpose Attracting and maintaining a romantic partner requires considerable effort. In the current study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that fear of singlehood is a primary factor driving individuals to allocate scarce resources in the mating domain. Methods We conducted a close-ended survey with a sample of 990 Greek and Turkish-speaking participants. Results We found that that a stronger fear of singlehood was associated with higher mating effort. Moreover, voluntarily single participants experienced lower fear of singlehood compared to other categories of singles and individuals in intimate relationships. Additionally, higher self-esteem was associated with lower fear of singlehood. We also identified a significant indirect effect of relationship status and self-esteem on mating effort through fear of singlehood. Specifically, involuntarily single individuals tended to exert more mating effort due to heightened fear of singlehood compared to those in other relationship status categories. Furthermore, higher self-esteem was associated with reduced mating effort, as it was associated with lower fear of singlehood. These findings held true across both the Greek and Turkish samples. Conclusion Relationship status and self-esteem play a role in mating effort through fear of singlehood.

Menelaos Apostolou

Burcu Tekeş

Antonios Kagialis

Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology

ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 是一本国际性的跨学科科学期刊，发表关于适应性人类行为的任何方面的理论和实证研究（例如合作、从属关系和联结、竞争和侵略、性和关系、育儿、决策），重点是研究还涉及控制行为的生物学（例如神经、内分泌、免疫、心血管、遗传）机制。

Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology is an international interdisciplinary scientific journal that publishes theoretical and empirical research on various aspects of adaptive human behavior, such as cooperation, affiliation and bonding, competition and aggression, sexuality and relationships, parenting, and decision-making. The journal places a strong emphasis on the biological mechanisms that control these behaviors, including neurological, endocrine, immune, cardiovascular, and genetic factors.

《Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology》是一本国际跨学科科学期刊，专注于适应性人类行为的各个方面，包括合作、从属关系、竞争、侵略、性与关系、育儿和决策等。期刊特别强调控制这些行为的生物学机制，如神经、内分泌、免疫、心血管和遗传等方面的研究。

What Drives Mating Effort: Fear of Singlehood, Relationship Status, and Self-Esteem

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
PSYCHOLOGY, BIOLOGICAL	3