Finding the Mating Gear : The Development and Validation of a Mate Access Scale

Abstract

Finding mates is evolutionarily fundamental and low mate access may increase the risk of psychopathologies. Most studies assume that our social environment provides us with access to mates, and that only personal characteristics or sexual competition limits mating success, without considering limited mate access as a result of the social context. The aim of this study was to create and psychometrically evaluate a measure for mate access. We conducted an online survey in a sample of 528 Finnish adults recruited via social media platforms. We evaluated a hypothetical two-factor structure divided into encounters with preferred mates (E) and perceived mating possibilities (P) through confirmatory factor analysis. With some small adjustments, and after removing one item with poor factor loading, the hypothetical model showed acceptable fit. As expected, the between-factor correlation was positive. We also investigated the relationship between the mate access factors E and P, and current social situation and negative affect by specifying two separate pathway models. High social interacting was positively associated with E, but also with P. P was negatively associated with negative affect. Overall, the mate access scale is a reliable and valid measure that could be incorporated in evolutionary and psychological research on human mating.