The Mediating Role of Parental Influence on the Relationship Between Adult Children’s Filial Piety Beliefs and Mate Preferences

Abstract

In the present study, we aim to examine the mediating roles of the two types of perceived parental influence in the relation between the dual filial piety model and adult children’s long-term mate preferences. A survey was administered to 499 Chinese adult children on their filial piety beliefs, perceptions about parental influence, and long-term mate preferences. Structural equation modeling revealed the following findings. (a) For both genders, reciprocal filial piety was positively correlated with good father/mother traits, and authoritarian filial piety was positively correlated with good gene traits. (b) For both genders, sensitivity from the perceived parental influence mediated the link between authoritarian filial piety and good provider traits. (c) For females, sensitivity mediated the link between authoritarian filial piety and good gene traits. (d) For males, parental monitoring from perceived parental influence mediated the link between authoritarian filial piety and good gene and good mother traits. In addition, authoritarian filial piety was positively correlated with good provider and good mother traits. In summary, filial piety can link both directly and indirectly to mate preference through parental sensitivity for males and females and through parental monitoring mainly for males.