Gen Z More Concerned About Political Differences in Dating Than Millennials
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Gen Z really prioritizes a certain compatibility factor when it comes to dating, a new study has revealed.
The generation born between 1997 and 2012 stands apart from older generations in the dating landscape, exhibiting a higher concern for political alignment in potential partners, according to a study from eHarmony. This shift suggests that for many young adults, political views are not a preference, but a fundamental compatibility factor.
Newsweek spoke to clinical psychologist Dr. Hannah Holmes about the findings and how she sees them reflected in her own practice.
Stock photo: A couple watches a news broadcast together.
Stock photo: A couple watches a news broadcast together.
gorodenkoff/Getty Images
The study, which surveyed 500 people "open to dating," explored main dealbreakers in dating across the U.S. and found that "28 percent of Gen Z said having different political views could lead them to turn down a date," compared to 21 percent of millennials and 21 percent of Gen X. This notable difference highlights a generational divide in what is considered a "dealbreaker" in romantic relationships.
Holmes shed light on why Gen Z might be more sensitive to political alignment.
"Gen Z grew up hearing stories about couples—or even seeing their own parents or family members—separating due to differences in political and social beliefs," she said. "Many of them see it as a serious sign of lack of compatibility, rather than a minor difference in opinion."
This trend, Holmes suggested, comes down to the integration of politics and core values and beliefs for the younger generation.
"Politics aren't just abstract concepts for many Gen Z-ers, but instead ways of understanding reality, with real-world consequences," she said. "Understandably, this means that a misalignment in politics is understood as a misalignment of core values, which is typically considered a relationship dealbreaker."
Other Dealbreakers in Dating
Beyond politics, the eHarmony study also uncovered other generational differences in dating priorities.
Millennials and Gen X appear less willing to relocate to find love compared to Gen Z—19 percent of both millennials and Gen X said they are not willing to relocate anywhere for love, compared to 12 percent of Gen Z.
Furthermore, Gen Z have a higher preference to date within their social circle compared to millennials.
Regarding the importance of political compatibility in long-term relationship satisfaction, Holmes noted scientific research to support that political compatibility leads to more satisfaction in relationships.
However, she emphasized that "political agreement is not the final word on compatibility, and with good communication and mutual respect, there are couples with differing political views who can have happy and satisfying relationships."
For those who discover political differences early on with someone they like, Holmes advised caution rather than an immediate dismissal.
"Generally, if a person meets someone great who is politically different from them, I would recommend proceeding with caution instead of immediately jumping ship," she said. Key considerations include "what are the specific disagreements? Do they fundamentally misalign with your view of the world and morality, or are they minor differences of opinion?" Holmes added. "Whether or not they respect your views and communicate maturely about political topics is...[a] crucial consideration for whether they'll ultimately make a good romantic match."
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