Overview

• The Swansea University–led study surveyed more than 5,000 participants across 11 countries to examine how both the number and timing of past sexual partners influence long-term relationship evaluations.
• Participants consistently rated profiles with declining partner frequencies over time as more suitable for commitment, even when total partner counts were high.
• High partner counts had less negative impact on commitment willingness when past encounters were concentrated earlier rather than ongoing.
• Male and female participants judged sexual histories similarly, reflecting minimal evidence of a sexual double standard across diverse cultural samples.
• Study authors and dating app developers are now exploring ways to integrate timing information into profiles and public discussions to reflect evolutionary-informed risk assessments.