Vegetarians are considered less attractive as romantic partners.

People become vegetarians for various reasons: ethical, environmental, economic, medical, or religious. Those who choose to give up animal products often view vegetarianism not merely as a diet but as a distinct lifestyle and philosophy. Sometimes, these principles clash with traditional norms, which can lead to biased attitudes among individuals who consume all types of products, including meat.

A group of psychologists from the University of Warsaw (Poland) aimed to investigate how the information regarding someone's vegetarian status affects perceptions of that person and their attractiveness as a potential romantic partner. Given that the overwhelming majority of Poles are meat-eaters, the study sample was specifically drawn from such individuals. An article about this research was published in the journal Social Psychological Bulletin.

In a series of online experiments, 204 women and 200 heterosexual men participated. Their ages ranged from 18 to 82 years (with an average age of about 45).

Participants were asked to imagine they were selecting a potential romantic partner through a dating app. They were then presented with profiles of potential candidates, complete with photographs, interests, and dietary information. In various versions of the profiles, it was noted that the individual adhered to vegetarianism for ethical, environmental, or medical reasons. The fourth, control option had no information about dietary habits.

After reviewing a profile, participants were required to answer a series of questions, including their overall impression of the person, their desire to start dating, gender compatibility, femininity (for female profiles), and masculinity (for male profiles).

It turned out that profiles that did not mention the candidates' dietary preferences consistently left a better impression on participants than those of vegetarians. Among vegetarians, the most negative evaluations were given to those whose dietary choices were linked to health concerns. Researchers also noted that women viewed the profiles of ethical vegetarians somewhat more favorably compared to men when they examined similar profiles of potential female partners.

The authors connected the observed trends to various cultural and psychological theories. For instance, it is believed that people are more attracted to those who share similar values and lifestyles. Since dietary habits often reflect other, more hidden preferences, meat-eaters may perceive vegetarians as fundamentally different individuals. This diminishes their attractiveness as potential partners for relationships.

Additionally, the researchers noted that Polish society is characterized by a commitment to traditional values and a family model with defined roles for men and women. Given that meat products are prevalent on the tables of most residents in this country, vegetarianism may seem like a deviation from the norm, especially for men, as meat consumption is culturally associated with strength and masculinity.

The fact that the experiment was conducted in Poland was also mentioned in the list of limitations. To understand whether such attitudes toward vegetarians are present in other cultures, further research in different countries is needed, concluded the Polish psychologists.