Table 1.
Q-Statements and Factor Arrays Across the Five Factors
| Theme Q statement | Factor arrays | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | |
| Reasons for initiating new partnerships | |||||
| 1. compensate for loneliness | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 2. partner should be single | 4 | 2 | −2 | 3 | 4 |
| 3. to operate within a long-term stable relationship | 1 | 3 | 1 | -2 | 1 |
| Modes of establishing new partnerships | |||||
| 4. partners should already know each other | 4 | −1 | −3 | 2 | − 3 |
| 5. partner should be introduced by my relatives and friends | 0 | −3 | −4 | 2 | 0 |
| 6. partner is living nearby | 2 | 0 | −2 | −4 | 0 |
| Sustainability of new partnerships | |||||
| 7. meet every day | 1 | −4 | 1 | −3 | −3 |
| 8. engage in common interests and hobbies | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 9. attend each other’s family activities | −1 | 0 | −2 | 0 | −2 |
| 10. the companionship of partners and family members are different | 0 | −1 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 11. make me feel young again | 3 | −1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 12. enjoy the feeling of mutual companionship | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 13. enjoy the feeling of being hand-in-hand, embracing and kissing | 0 | −3 | 3 | −1 | 2 |
| 14. satisfaction of sexual needs | −1 | −4 | 0 | −1 | −2 |
| 15. assist to broaden the interpersonal network | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 16. enrich and share a life together | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 17. enjoy the romantic feeling that you never had when you were young or in a previous marriage | 1 | 1 | 1 | −1 | − 1 |
| 18. enjoy a normal and tangible life | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Interpersonal influences and personal attitudes regarding new partnerships | |||||
| 19. consider the thoughts of adult children | −1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20. consider the thoughts of family members | −2 | −2 | −2 | 0 | 0 |
| 21. consider the thoughts of relatives and friends | −2 | −3 | 0 | 2 | −1 |
| 22. need to keep my own independence | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 23. is a proud and glorious matter | 1 | −2 | −3 | −2 | 1 |
| 24. has a certain risk | −2 | 0 | −2 | 2 | 0 |
| 25. consider mutual age problems | 0 | 0 | −3 | −2 | 2 |
| 26. consider mutual health conditions | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 27. consider mutual financial situations | −1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | −1 |
| 28. consider mutual religious beliefs | −1 | 1 | −1 | −3 | −2 |
| 29. live together after our relationship is stable | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | − 2 |
| 30. give each other commitment after our relationship is stable | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 31. take care of each other after our relationship is stable | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | −1 |
| 32. share the living expenses after our relationship is stable | −1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | −4 |
| 33. regard marriage as the ultimate purpose | −2 | 1 | −4 | −1 | −4 |
| 34. consider mutual health situations, then decide whether to get married or not | 0 | 2 | −1 | −4 | 3 |
| 35. consider mutual age problems, then decide whether to get married or not | −3 | −1 | −1 | 0 | 1 |
| 36. consider the problem of caring for children, then decide whether to get married or not | −3 | −2 | −1 | − 1 | −3 |
| 37. consider the problem of caring for parents, then decide whether to get married or not | −4 | −1 | − 1 | − 2 | 1 |
| 38. consider mutual property succession problems, then decide whether to get married or not | −3 | −2 | 0 | 0 | −2 |
| 39. consider family problems, then decide whether to get married or not | −4 | −2 | 0 | −1 | −1 |
| 40. consider the problem of handling housework, then decide whether to get married or not | −2 | −1 | −1 | −3 | − 1 |
a Factor ratings were identified via a Q-sort factor analysis and indicate how statements were ranked (from + 4 [most important] to − 4 [the least important]) by participants who loaded significantly onto a given factor. b Boldface indicates the significance (p < .01) of the distinguishing statements