Survey on Romantic Attraction - Part 2

This is part 2 of a survey on romantic attraction, which I'm analyzing for my submission to the May 2017 Carnival of Aces. Part 1 can be found here.

Romantic Attraction and Attitude Towards Romance

In part 1, I discussed what the participants' self-reported romantic orientation was. I also asked a variety of questions to explore their feelings around romance more closely.

Firstly, I asked participants if they considered themselves to experience romantic attraction - 46.5% said no, 37.2% said yes, and 16.3% were uncertain. Among aromantic participants, 88.4% said no and 11.6% were uncertain; among alloromantic participants, 88.9% said yes, 1 person said no and 2 were uncertain; and among 'other' participants, 50% said yes, 43.8% were uncertain and 1 person said no.

I also asked individuals if they had ever been in a queerplatonic relationship, and 61.6% said no, 24.4% said they were unsure, 9.3% said yes, and two gave other responses (one saying maybe, but neither partner knew they were queer at the time; and the other saying it was unrequited). I also asked if they wanted a QPR, and 41.9% said yes, 32.6% said they were unsure, 11.6% said no, 8.1% said they didn't know what a QPR was, and 4 gave other responses (1 said they were already in a QPR, 1 disliked the term and wanted multiple significant relationships, 1 wanted a strong relationship but didn't care if it was platonic or romantic, and 1 wouldn't refuse one but wasn't actively looking).

Towards the end of the survey, I asked individuals how they would feel about the prospect of being in a romantic relationship themselves, and found that 14% chose "I really want that", 37.2% chose "I would be open to it", 3.5% chose "I would be indifferent to it", 18.6% chose "I would probably not like it, but might with someone special", and 26.7% chose "I would never want that".

Desired and Undesired Activities

In addition to asking about what participants have done in close relationships with nonrelatives, I also asked about activities that they would like to do in close relationships, and activities that they would feel uncomfortable doing, using the same list. Note that 8.1% of the sample didn't answer what they would like to do, and 4.7% didn't answer what they would feel uncomfortable doing. The statistics below are based only on those who responded to this question.

• 55.7% would like to kiss the other person on the forehead or cheek, 24.4% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 57% would like to receive kisses on the forehead or cheek, 20.7% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 35.9% would like to kiss on the mouth, 48.8% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 65.8% would like to hold hands, 18.3% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 65.8% would like to cuddle, 17.1% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 88.6% would like to hug, 6.1% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 65.8% would like to hug in public, 18.3% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 25.3% would like to cuddle in public, 43.9% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 30.4% would like to kiss or be kissed on the forehead or cheek in public, 34.1% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 17.7% would like to kiss on the mouth in public, 65.9% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 50.6% would like to hold hands in public, 25.9% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 24.1% would like other affectionate touch in public, 39% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 35.4% would like to gaze deeply into each other's eyes, 30.5% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 46.8% would like to cry on the other person's shoulder, 24.4% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 40.5% would like the other person to cry on their shoulder, 20.7% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 39.2% would like to massage the other person, 30.5% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 41.8% would like to be given a massage by the other person, 36.6% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 30.4% would like to brush the other person's hair, 18.3% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 32.9% would like to have their hair brushed by the other person, 28% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 17.7% would like to paint the other person's nails, 24.4% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 13.9% would like to have their nails painted by the other person, 26.8% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 1.3% would like to shave the other person, 65.9% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 1.3% would like to be shaved by the other person, 72% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 13.9% would like to bathe together in bathing suits, 48.8% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 12.7% would like to bathe together naked, 75.6% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 20.3% would like to see the other person naked, 53.7% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 17.7% would like to be seen naked by the other person, 59.8% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 5.1% would like to feed the other person, 51.2% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 5.1% would like to be fed by the other person, 52.4% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 24.1% would like to be tickled by the other person, 34.1% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 29.1% would like to tickle the other person, 29.3% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 39.2% would like to call or be called by terms of endearment, 19.5% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 68.4% would like to call or be called 'best friend', 6.1% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 40.5% would like to call or be called 'partner', 20.7% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 32.9% would like to call or be called romantically coded labels such as 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend', 36.6% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 26.6% would like to have other platonic partners, 23.2% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 17.7% would like the other person to have other platonic partners, 24.4% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 5.1% would like other romantic partners, 61% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 10.1% would like the other person to have other romantic partners, 53.7% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 8.9% would like the other person to do romantically-coded things with other people, 43.9% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 11.4% would like to do romantically-coded things with other people, 57.3% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 15.2% would like the other person to have sex with other people, 39% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 11.4% would like to have sex with other people, 62.2% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 30.4% would like to give romantically-coded gifts, 26.8% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 32.9% would like to receive romantically-coded gifts, 30.5% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 38% would like to dance with the other person, 15.9% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 46.8% would like to share a bed without cuddling with the other person, 17.1% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 54.4% would like to cuddle together in bed with the other person, 30.5% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 16.5% would like to tuck the other person in, 23.2% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 20.3% would like to be tucked in, 24.4% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 69.6% would like to live with the other person, 11% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 31.6% would like to marry the other person, 42.7% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 21.5% would like to raise children with the other person, 47.6% would feel uncomfortable with it
• 60.8% would like to have pets with the other person, 13.4% would feel uncomfortable with it

It's important to note that contrary to what I was expecting, some people reported both wanting to do something and being uncomfortable with it.

Next, I assessed the extent to which their attitudes to activities were predicted by whether they experienced romantic attraction. Likelihood to say they would like the following activities differed between participants who reported 'yes' or 'no' to romantic attraction (yes vs no):

• giving kisses on forehead or cheek (p = .024) - 66.7% vs 38.9%
• receiving kisses on forehead or cheek (p = .001) - 76.7% vs 33.3%
• cuddling (p = .003) - 83.3% vs 50%
• eye gazing (p = .010) - 53.3% vs 22.2%
• crying on (p = .015) - 63.3% vs 33.3%
• being tickled (p = .035) - 33.3% vs 11.1%
• tickling them (p = .040) - 40% vs 16.7%
• label of 'partner' (p = .010) - 50% vs 19.4%
• romantic label (p = .001) - 63.3% vs 2.8%
• them having other platonic partners (p = .039) - 6.7% vs 25%
• having sex with others (p = .036) - 3.3% vs 19.4%
• giving romantic gifts (p = .001) - 53.3% vs 8.3%
• receiving romantic gifts (p < .001) - 56.7% vs 11.1%
• dancing (p = .037) - 53.3% vs 27.8%
• cuddling in bed (p = .011) - 70% vs 38.9%
• living together (p = .024) - 83.3% vs 58.3%
• marriage (p = .001) - 53.3% vs 13.9%
• raising kids together (p = .018) - 36.7% vs 11.1%

Since most of the allosexuals in my sample are aromantic, these results might be biased by greater asexuality among alloromantic participants. To test this, I re-ran this analysis with only asexuals. Tickling, being tickled, the other person having other platonic partners, the participant having sex with others, dancing, living together, and raising kids together no longer differed significantly. Most just barely missed significance, suggesting that it was smaller sample size that caused the change, but being tickled, the other person having other platonic partners and the participant having sex with others were nowhere near significance (p = .201, .316 and .361 respectively). In addition, two items reached significance - kissing on the mouth (p = .029), and tucking the other person in (p = .043).

To assess this further, I then analyzed differences between 8 allosexual and 29 asexual participants who reported not feeling romantic attraction. The two groups differed on the following items (allo vs ace):

• giving kisses on forehead or cheek (p = .011) - 75% vs 25.9%
• receiving kisses on forehead or cheek (p = .002) - 75% vs 18.5%
• kissing on the mouth (p = .001) - 75% vs 14.8%
• bathing together naked (p = .045) - 50% vs 3.7%
• seeing the other person naked (p = .027) - 62.5% vs 11.1%
• being tickled (p = .043) - 0% vs 14.8%
• having sex with other people (p = .015) - 62.5% vs 3.7%
• marriage (p = .043) - 0% vs 14.8%

Discomfort differed between those who did and did not experience romantic attraction for only two items - hugging (p = .044) and being shaved (p = .019). Hugging was uncomfortable for 10.5% of those who answered 'no' and none of those who answered 'yes', and being shaved was uncomfortable for 78.9% of those who answered 'no' and 51.6% of those who answered 'yes'.

Among asexuals, hugging was still significant, and shaving was not. In addition, the following all showed significant differences between people who did and did not experience romantic attraction (yes vs no):

• kissing on the mouth (p = .042) - 29.2% vs 57.1%
• kissing on the mouth in public (p = .006) - 50% vs 87.5%
• bathing together naked (p = .013) - 58.3% vs 89.3%
• the other person seeing you naked (p = .034) - 45.8% vs 75%
• doing romantic things with other people (p = .015) - 41.7% vs 75%
• having sex with others ( p = .007) - 45.8% vs 82.1%

Among those who answered 'no' to experiencing romantic attraction, allosexuals and asexuals differed in discomfort with the following items (allo vs ace):

• giving kisses on forehead or cheek (p = .003) - 0% vs 28.6%
• kissing on the mouth (p = .012) - 12.5% vs 57.1%
• hugging in public (p = .006) - 0% vs 25%
• cuddling in public (p = .004) - 12.5% vs 64.3%
• kissing on the mouth in public (p = .007) - 25% vs 85.7%
• the other person seeing you naked (p = .020) - 25% vs 75%
• having sex with other people (p = .049) - 37.5% vs 82.1%
• cuddling in bed (p = .001) - 0% vs 39.3%
• living together (p = .022) - 0% vs 17.9%
• having pets together (p = .022) - 0% vs 17.9%

Desired Activities and Desired Relationships

First, I divided people's attitudes towards personally being involved in a romantic relationship into three categories - people who wanted romance ("I really want that" + "I would be open to it"), people who felt indifferent, and people who didn't want romance ("I would probably not like it, but might with someone special" + "I would never want that"). I compared people who wanted vs didn't want romance and found the following differences in desired activities (want vs don't want):

• giving kisses on forehead or cheek (p = .003) - 71.4% vs 38.2%
• being kissed on forehead or cheek (p = .001) - 78.6% vs 32.4%
• kissing on the mouth (p = .005) - 51.2% vs 20.6%
• hand holding (p = .005) - 81% vs 50%
• cuddling (p = .001) - 83.3% vs 47.1%
• hugging (p = .048) - 95.2% vs 79.4%
• cuddling in public (p = .033) - 35.7% vs 14.7%
• kissing on forehead or cheek in public (p = .027) - 40.5% vs 17.6%
• hand holding in public (p = .012) - 64.3% vs 35.3%
• eye gazing (p = .028) - 47.6% vs 23.5%
• crying on the other person (p = .018) - 59.5% vs 32.4%
• being tickled (p = .013) - 35.7% vs 11.8%
• tickling the other person (p = .001) - 45.2% vs 11.8%
• using terms of endearment for each other (p = .002) - 54.8% vs 20.6%
• calling each other 'partner' (p = .001) - 57.1% vs 20.6%
• calling each other by romantically coded terms (p = .001) - 59.5% vs 2.9%
• having other romantic partners (p = .044) - 9.5% vs 0%
• giving romantically coded gifts (p = .001) - 50% vs 8.8%
• receiving romantically coded gifts (p < .001) - 52.4% vs 11.8%
• dancing (p = .016) - 50% vs 23.5%
• bed sharing without cuddling (p = .031) - 57.1% vs 32.4%
• cuddling in bed (p = .001) - 73.8% vs 29.4%
• living together (p = .021) - 81% vs 55.9%
• marriage (p = .001) - 50% vs 5.9%
• raising kids together (p = .002) - 33.3% vs 5.9%

For activities that would make them uncomfortable, the following differences emerged between people who wanted or didn't want a romantic relationship (want vs don't want):

• hugging (p = .044) - 0% vs 11.1%
• bathing together naked (p = .048) - 67.4% vs 86.1%
• calling each other 'partner' (p = .045) - 11.6% vs 30.6%
• doing romantic things with other people (p = .040) - 46.5% vs 69.4%

Next, I assessed whether desired and uncomfortable activities differed depending on whether the person wanted a queerplatonic relationship. Note that since only 10 participants said no, statistical power is poor for this comparison. Still, I found the following differences in desired activities (yes vs no):

• giving kisses on forehead or cheek (p = .017) - 61.1% vs 14.3%
• receiving kisses on forehead or cheek (p = .023) - 58.3% vs 14.3%
• cuddling (p = .001) - 75% vs 14.3%
• hugging in public (p = .001) - 77.8% vs 14.3%
• kissing on the mouth in public (p = .006) - 19.4% vs 0%
• hand holding in public (p = .041) - 52.8% vs 14.3%
• eye gazing (p = .001) - 47.2% vs 0%
• crying on the other person (p = .041) - 52.8% vs 14.3%
• giving a massage (p = .031) - 55.6% vs 14.3%
• bathing together with suits (p = .012) - 16.7% vs 0%
• bathing together naked (p = .044) - 11.1% vs 0%
• the other person seeing you naked (p = .001) - 27.8% vs 0%
• labeling each other 'partner' (p = .001) - 61.1% vs 0%
• having other platonic partners (p = .001) - 36.1% vs 0%
• the other person having other platonic partners (p = .001) - 25% vs 0%
• the other person having other romantic relationships (p = .044) - 11.1% vs 0%
• the other person having sex with other people (p = .012) - 16.7% vs 0%
• dancing (p = .001) - 47.2% vs 0%
• bed-sharing without cuddling (p = .001) - 61.1% vs 0%
• cuddling in bed (p = .001) - 61.1% vs 0%
• tucking the other person in (p = .001) - 27.8% vs 0%
• being tucked in by the other person (p = .001) - 27.8% vs 0%
• having pets together (p = .009) - 66.7% vs 14.3%

I didn't find any significant differences between those who wanted or didn't want QPRs in terms of what they found uncomfortable to do.

And my analysis ends here, for now. I still have a lot more data to analyze, but it could be a very long time until I get the chance. I need to go to the university to use SPSS, and I live in a rural area and don't have a driver's license, so I'm dependent on public transportation to get there. Unfortunately, the Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall has decided to cut the government-run intercity bus company, STC, and services end today. This decision is causing a great deal of problems for people and businesses in rural Saskatchewan, and I've been meaning to write a blog post about it. For this survey, the net effect is that the rest of the analysis will most likely have to wait for next fall at the earliest, unless my Dad can drive me in sometime when he's not working.