What do you find attractive in a potential date? Your answer might include the color of a person’s eyes, and the shape of his or her body. Or, you might be looking for someone with a winning personality. Would you be more attracted to someone specifically because that person had health insurance? A survey finds that plenty of young people would answer that question affirmatively.
The specific things that cause one person to become attracted to another can vary and tend to be at least somewhat influenced by the current economic factors. Not all young people start off by only dating those that they truly intend to someday marry. Eventually though, many men and women will get to the point where they are looking for someone to spend the rest of their lives with.
I’ve heard a lot about the biological imperatives behind dating. In short, this theory says that (heterosexual) men are looking for women who appear young and healthy. The explanation as to why that happens usually mentions something about how men are subconsciously seeking women who they can make children with, in order to spread their genetics to a new generation.
The same theory also says that (heterosexual) women are looking for men who are strong and wealthy. The reasons why are because women are subconsciously looking for a man who can protect her, and her potential future children, and who will stick around to provide for the family.
If the biological theories behind dating are true, it certainly would explain the outcome of a recent survey that was done by eHealthInsurance.com. The results indicated that the majority of young adults feel that a potential mate who has health insurance is much more attractive than a potential mate that lacks it.
The survey included young adults who were between the ages of 18 and 30. All respondents were single. They were full time college students, recent college graduates, people who were working, or people who were seeking employment. 90% of students and 93% of recent college graduates said they would be more attracted to someone if they knew for certain that the person had health insurance.
Those that had health insurance had a better chance of taking their relationships to a more intimate level. 30% of students and 32% of college graduates said that they would be less likely to have sex with someone who did not have health insurance.
The survey doesn’t give explanations about why the respondents felt that way. I can take a guess at it, though. It goes back to the biology behind dating. If men are subconsciously seeking fertile women, the men must realize that dating could lead to pregnancy. Women who have health insurance are going to (hopefully) be covered for medical bills that relate to pregnancy and a birth at a hospital.
If women are subconsciously seeking men who can provide financial stability, the women must realize that health insurance is expensive. Men who can afford health insurance are likely to have good jobs, and a good income. This would be helpful in case dating leads to the couple having children.
Let’s not forget one more obvious factor. Students, and recent graduates, have accrued a lot of debt through school loans. They cannot possibly take on the medical debt of a potential mate at this time.
Image by Rich Bowen on Flickr