Marriage and Fertility Aspirations in Post-Pandemic China: Changes in the Preferences of Young Adults

Young adults in China, like their counterparts from around the world, eventually begin to seek out intimate partners. However, the global pandemic of recent years has impacted virtually every aspect of our social lives and, understandably, has greatly affected the normal dating and mate selection patterns among young people. In this study, we use data from two samples of college students in China; one sample was collected in the years prior to the beginning of the pandemic (2017-2019), while the second sample was conducted immediately following the end of the pandemic (2022-2024). The analyses reveal several distinct changes in the mate selection preferences on young adults. Following the pandemic, both females and males express a greater desire for partners who are caring and sensitive to their emotional needs, and express a lower preference for partners with more pragmatic qualities (e.g., earnings potential). Further, the relative effect of parental control and filial piety are shown to be lower among young people, following the pandemic. Daughters, as compared to sons, appear to be more substantially affected by parental influence. However, in the post-pandemic sample, both females and males express a lower desire for traditional marriage, the desire for a higher age at first marriage, and a greater openness to alternative forms of relationships (e.g., cohabitation). Overall, the analyses suggest that contemporary Chinese dating patterns have changed, and dramatically so, over the course of the pandemic. The results suggest that a significant shift in the mate selection preferences of both young females and males has occurred. The results are discussed within the modernization framework, and the implications for future patterns of mate selection and marriage are addressed.