What Makes Her a Material Girl?: The Influence of Childhood Economic Background and Sex Ratio on Female Preference for Male Resource Availability

Abstract

Drawing on life history theory, this research explores the moderating role of childhood economic background in the relationship between sex ratio and the female’s mate preference for male resource availability. Using different priming materials, three experiments consistently found that women with a rich childhood economic background showed a stable level of mate preference for good resource—this applied regardless of male- or female-biased sex ratio. But females with a poor childhood economic background showed a higher level of preference for male resource availability under the condition of female-biased sex ratio (vs. the condition of male-biased sex ratio). These findings support the moderating role of female childhood economic background in the relationship between sex ratio and their mating preference of good resources.