While more Americans are marrying across racial and ethnic lines as reported in a recent Pew Research Center study, a new survey finds that a sense of humor and a similar cultural background are the characteristics people value most when looking for a soul mate.
According to a survey of 1,000 Americans conducted for People Media, Inc., a provider of targeted online dating communities, fully three-quarters of the population believe a sense humor or a common cultural background are paramount for relationship success. These factors dwarf the more external aspects of a potential mate such as appearance, educational level and financial state.
The survey asked: "In addition to chemistry, which one of the following do you believe is the single most important factor when choosing a relationship partner?"
- 45 percent -- Sense of humor
- 30 percent -- Similar cultural background
- 10 percent -- Appearance
- 7.3 percent -- Educational level
- 6.8 percent -- Financial state
"Similar attitudes and values between partners are critical to the longevity of relationships," said Dr. Terri Orbuch, a psychologist and research professor at the University of Michigan known as The Love Doctor, who also is a relationship expert for People Media's SeniorPeopleMeet.com. "Having a similar background -- be it religion, race, ethnicity or lifestyle -- acts as a frame of reference that both partners share. These shared perspectives enhance communication and one's ability to be, and feel, understood. This helps create a sort of 'emotional shorthand' that is beneficial to healthy relationships."
The importance of finding someone with a similar cultural background provides an interesting counterpoint to a recent Pew Research Center study showing that the percentage of interracial and interethnic marriages more than doubled between 1980 and 2008 and occurred at six times the rate of 1960. However, with one in seven new marriages considered interethnic or interracial, intermarriages comprise just 14.6 percent of all new marriages in the U.S."It's not surprising to us that Americans ranked a sense of humor and a similar cultural background as most important when choosing a relationship partner," said Josh Meyers, CEO of People Media. "The growth of targeted online dating sites like ours is due to the success people have when they are able to find others who share their perspective and values." Dissecting the DataThe survey results were consistent with regard to the gender, marital status, education and employment status of the respondents. There were, however, some exceptions:The results were somewhat different when considered by race: 49% of white respondents selected "sense of humor" as their top choice (compared with 31% of non-whites) while 31% of whites, compared with 27% of non-whites, chose "similar cultural background." "Appearance" was the most important factor for 17% of non-whites, compared with 9% of whites; 13% of non-whites chose "financial state" vs. 5% of whites; and 13% of non-whites selected "educational level," compared with 6% of whites.
The results were consistent with regard to age for respondents in the 18-24, 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54 categories. They differed slightly, however, in the 55-64 and 65-plus categories. Fully 47% of those 65 and older chose "similar cultural background" as their No. 1 choice, followed by "sense of humor (35.5%) and "educational level" (7%). Respondents ages 55-64 selected "sense of humor" and "similar cultural background" as their first and second choices, followed by "financial state" (11%).The results also were consistent by region of the country. Interestingly, however, the highest percentage of those who answered "similar cultural background" reside in the Midwest (37%), followed by the South (31%), West (27%) and Northeast (25%).The research firm Synovate conducted the study in early August. The survey has a margin of error +/- 3 percent.
