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Genetics

Trait correlations in human couples

Nature Human Behaviour volume 7, pages 1420–1421 (2023)Cite this article

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People tend to form partnerships with others who are similar to themselves. A new meta-analysis examines correlations between human mating partners, and finds correlations across nearly every trait studied. Education, social attitudes and substance use showed the highest correlations. Effect sizes differed between studies, suggesting potential cultural contingency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max Planck Research Group Biosocial – Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany

    Yayouk E. Willems & Laurel Raffington

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  1. Yayouk E. Willems
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  2. Laurel Raffington
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Correspondence to Yayouk E. Willems.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Willems, Y.E., Raffington, L. Trait correlations in human couples. Nat Hum Behav 7, 1420–1421 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01673-y

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