Dataset for: "Autistic-like traits in members of the general population and mate retention tactics: The mediation of attachment styles and reproductive strategies."

Autistic-like traits (ALTs) have been the subject of a substantial body of research, including studies exploring romantic relationships. However, few scholars have approached ALTs from an evolutionary perspective. We tested a model of relations between ALTs and mate retention tactics taking into consideration mediators central to evolutionary life history theory: reproductive strategies and attachment styles. Structural equation modeling (SEM) involving results from 796 individuals (52% females) showed that individuals with higher ALTs do not use tactics inflicting costs on their mates, but they do not engage in benefit provisioning, either. In romantic relationships, ALTs are not so much associated with evolutionary strategies as with attachment styles – both fearful and avoidant. The results indicate also that there are no mediation effects of attachments between Alt's and mate retention tactics. We found only a positive direct effect anxious attachment on benefit-provisioning and cost-inflicting domain and a negative direct effect avoidant attachment on benefit domain. The sex of the participants was not found to be a moderator in the tested model.