Sex differences in color preferences among an elderly sample.

The purpose of the study was to assess differences in color preferences between the sexes. A sample of 193 retirees were asked to report their favorite colors. The pattern of frequencies for preferred color differed as a function of sex. Blue was chosen as the most preferred color by both sexes. Women preferred black and purple more than men did. Moreover, the men preferred red over pink, whereas the women preferred red and pink equally. The rank order of color preferences for this elderly group were very similar to the findings of Silver, et al. who sampled young adults in 1988.