Image of an ideal partner in the views of young people

There is no single opinion about the impact of family of orientation on selecting a partner in youth and a form of their own families, which underlines the relevance of the study. Considering partnership relations and partner selection factors should take into account variations of respondents with different sexual orientation nowadays. Identifying features of the image of young people with a heterosexual, bisexual and homosexual orientation of an ideal partner given the parent image is the aim of this study. The study applies standardized methods of data collection: Sex Role Inventory (S. Bem) and the FamilyAdaptabilityand Cohesion Evolution Scale. Sexual orientation and other socio-demographic factors have been identified through the questionnaire. The obtained data has been statistically analyzed using the single-factor analysis of variance, student’s t-test for independent samples and Pearson correlation analysis. As a result of the study, conclusions have been obtained concerning the androgyny of an ideal partner of youth, combining feminine and masculine qualities. The consistent consideration of hetero-bi-and homosexuality in women may indicate a gradual change in preferences for more androgynous female characteristics. Men have the opposite tendency. It has been revealed that the emotional cohesion in the family of orientation and the femininity of an ideal partner of youth are interrelated. The presence of a dominant emotional relationship with the family of orientation in men compared to women is of great scientific interest. This study allows to expand the theoretical understanding of aspects when choosing a preferred partner, the specifics of differences in this phenomenon depending on gender and sexual orientation.