Online Dating Preferences Differences Among Chinese American and Japanese American Older Adults

Background/Purpose: The partner preferences of older adults (60 years and older) is an important concern among social workers, given how relationship status (widowed, divorced, and never married) may negatively impact physical health, mental health, and mortality. A dramatic increase in the use of online dating websites among adults over age 50 is evident. Related research primarily focuses on testing a theory of sexual strategies on younger, White/Caucasian Americans. This study fills the gap by describing the dating preferences among older Chinese and Japanese American adults in regards to whether gender and ethnic differences affect preferences for the potential partner’s education level, age, and height. 

Methods: Data were collected from a national online dating website, whose privacy policy indicates that online information is publicly available. Chinese American heterosexual older adults (45 female and 45 male) and Japanese American heterosexual older adults (45 female and 45 male) were randomly selected. Their mean age was 65.72 years old. More than half of participants (58.4%) have some college experience, an associate degree, or a bachelor degree. Another 37.7% of them have graduate degree or above. The average income is between $50,001 and $100,000. 

Two-way (2*2, Male vs. Female; Japanese vs. Chinese) MANOVA was conducted. All of the assumptions are met: no outliers, normality, linearity, homogeneity of regression, multicollinearity and singularity, and homogeneity of variance-covariance matrices (Box’s M Test of Equality of Covariance Matrices is greater than .001). An alpha of .01 was used as the significant level of Leven’s Test of Equality of Error Variances. With investigating three dependent variables, we divided .05 by 3, giving a new alpha level of .017 of between-subjects effects. In addition, if the value of effect size is less than .019, it is considered as quite a small effect.

Results: The results indicate a statistically significant difference between gender (F (3, 160)=215.5; P=.000; Wilk's Λ =.198; partial η²  =.802) and the interaction between gender and ethnicity (F(3,160)=2.94; P=.035; Wilk's Λ =.948; partial η²  =.052). Female gender is associated with preference for older dating partners (F(1,162)=116.97; P=.000; partial η²  =.419), higher height (F (1,162)=463.05; p=.000; partial η²  =.741), and more education (F (1,162)=30.428; p=.000; partial η²  =.158). Ethnicity, alone does not impact dating preferences. The interaction of gender and ethnicity only influences the preference of partner’s height (F (1,162)=185.35; p=.011; partial η²  =.039).

Implications: The findings of two-way MANOVA suggest no difference among dating preferences by ethnicity. Descriptive findings can help counter myths regarding dating activities among older Chinese and Japanese American adults. Traditional Asian culture has different expectations and standards for men and women. Remarriage is discouraged among widowed Asian female. By understanding their preferences for dating partners, social workers can support older Chinese and Japanese American women as they consider their options for romantic and sexual partnerships in the context of their traditional beliefs and American culture. Also, understanding the dating preferences of Asian American older adults in the U.S. can contribute to the growth of culturally sensitive social work practices.