The Mediating Role of Perceived Transformative Romantic Experiences in Linking Parental Bonding to Life History Related Outcomes

Abstract

Within the life history strategies perspective, early parental environments have been theorized to shape adult mating related outcomes, yet the extent to which these associations are expressed through perceived positive and potentially transformative adult romantic relationship experiences has not been systematically examined. The present study tested whether such relationship experiences help explain associations between parental bonding dimensions (care and overprotection) and a range of adult outcomes, including romantic attachment orientations, self-esteem, mate value, mate preferences and sociosexual orientations. Adult female participants completed measures of parental bonding, adult romantic relationship experiences, attachment anxiety and avoidance, selfmate value, self-esteem and sociosexuality alongside a forced-choice task assessing preference for masculinity in male faces. Mediation analyses indicated that adult romantic relationship experiences accounted for some, but not all, associations between early bonding and adult functioning. Indirect effects were observed for attachment insecurity and self-evaluative outcomes (self-esteem and mate value), whereas some parental dimensions were associated with specific sociosexuality domains, but these associations were not mediated by adult romantic relationship experiences. Maternal and paternal caregiving showed partially distinct patterns of association and parental overprotection was unrelated to adult romantic relationship experiences and linked to fewer adult outcomes than parental care. Taken together, the findings suggest that adult romantic relationship experiences represent one meaningful pathway linking early caregiving environments to certain adult outcomes, while other associations appear to operate independently of the relational context assessed.