Perceived Qualities of the Potential Mates among the University Students in Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

Unmarried young people are highly concerned with the qualities of their potential mates. The study investigated the importance of various qualities that university level students prefer in selecting their prospective mates. Three theories shed light on this study: evolutionary theory, social exchange theory, and social homogamy theory, all of which are pertinent to individuals’ mate selection behavior. A total of 224 students studying in bachelor level programs at Pokhara University's colleges in Kathmandu were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate level statistics, such as the chi-square test, to test the research hypothesis. The findings of the study indicated that university level students placed the highest importance to the mutual love, care, and support of a potential mate, followed by good health, honesty, intelligence, and a good sense of humor. Chastity, which used to be given top priority, was not given as much value by the respondents in this study. The youths placed relatively low importance to the family structures, family networks, and family social status. Furthermore, respondents did not attach importance to the potential mate's political affiliation. Among the sixteen qualities of a potential mate investigated, based on the modified list from \textcite{hill1945campus} study to highlight the importance of their mate, about half showed gender variation. The findings were useful for tracing the direction of societal transformation in mate selection among university level students.