On average, men preferred women who were 2.5 cm shorter than the average female height in their country, while women preferred men who were 2.3 cm taller than the average male height. The study also found that taller individuals tended to prefer taller partners, a pattern known as assortative mating.
Interestingly, men’s preferences for women’s height varied depending on the relationship context. They preferred even shorter women for short-term relationships compared to long-term ones. This suggests that height plays a more nuanced role in romantic preferences than previously thought.
While the study offers valuable insights, it has limitations. The use of drawings and height labels may not fully reflect real-life interactions. Still, the findings shed light on how cultural and biological factors influence our romantic choices.