A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
A matter of time: Batemans principles and mating success as count and duration in contemporary Finland
Authors: Andersson Linus, Saarela, Jan, Jalovaara Marika, Uggla Caroline
Publisher: The Royal Society Publishing
Publishing place: Lontoo
Publication year: 2023
Journal: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume: 290
Issue: 12.7.2023
eISSN: 1471-2954
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.1061
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.1061
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/179947872
Bateman's principles heavily influence the understanding of human reproductive behaviour. Yet, few rigorous studies on Bateman's principles in contemporary industrialized populations exist. Most studies use small samples, exclude non-marital unions, and disregard recent insights on within-population heterogeneity in mating strategies. We assess mating success and reproductive success using population-wide Finnish register data on marital and non-marital cohabitations and fertility. We examine variability across social strata in the Bateman principles and analyse the mate count, the cumulated duration with a mate, and the association with reproductive success. Results support Bateman's first and second principles. Regarding Bateman's third principle, the number of mates is more positively associated with reproductive success for men than women, but this association is driven by ever having a mate. Having more than one mate is on average associated with lower reproductive success. However, for men in the lowest income quartile, having more than one mate positively predicts reproductive success. Longer union duration is associated with higher reproductive success, and more so for men. We note that sex differences in the relationship between mating success and reproductive success differ by social strata, and argue that mate duration may be an important component of mating success alongside mate count.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |