Do people prefer and choose partners who resemble their parents? A preregistered systematic review and meta-analysis of parent–partner similarity
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: This project is a preregistered systematic review and meta-analysis of parent–partner similarity in humans, often called the imprinting-like effect. We synthesize quantitative evidence, published and unpublished, on associations between traits of adults' parents and preferred or actual partners, including comparisons with chance or control conditions where available. Primary analyses estimate effects within comparable effect-size families and examine trait domain, participant and parent sex, and preferences versus actual partner choice. Secondary analyses concern other relatives, sexual orientation, parent–child relationship quality, population, methods, and participant–partner similarity (homogamy). We search Web of Science, Scopus, APA PsycInfo, PubMed, dissertations, preprints, Google Scholar, and conference abstracts, and contact researchers for unpublished data. Two independent reviewers screen and extract data. Random-effects synthesis accounts for dependent effects; effect metrics and sampling variances follow study design, with robustness and publication-bias checks where feasible. Outputs: a bachelor's thesis at Charles University, a journal article, and open data, materials, and analysis code on OSF.
Source: Open Science Framework
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225003886