Remaining single in your twenties is linked to lower life satisfaction

Young adults who remain single throughout their twenties experience steeper declines in life satisfaction and greater increases in loneliness compared to those who enter romantic relationships. A new analysis of data from Germany and the United Kingdom suggests that while adolescence starts on a level playing field, the well-being gap widens substantially as individuals approach age thirty. These results were published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

In recent decades, the number of young adults delaying or foregoing romantic partnerships has risen globally. Public discourse often frames this shift as an act of independence. This perspective suggests individuals are prioritizing education and career development over traditional family structures. However, psychologists have debated whether this extended singlehood comes at a cost to mental health.

The alternative view posits that modern singles might be thriving outside of conventional relationships. Michael D. Krämer, a psychologist at the University of Zurich, led a team to investigate these competing narratives. They sought to understand who remains single during the critical developmental phase known as emerging adulthood.

The researchers aimed to distinguish between preexisting differences in personality and the actual psychological effects of remaining unpartnered over time. This distinction is often difficult to make in snapshot studies. Previous research has often failed to clarify if unhappy people stay single or if staying single makes people unhappy. To address this, the current study utilized a longitudinal design. This approach tracks the same human beings over many years.

The team analyzed data from three large-scale representative surveys. These surveys followed 17,390 participants from Germany and the United Kingdom. The researchers focused on individuals who had never been in a committed relationship at the start of the study. They tracked these participants annually from age 16 to 29. This yielded over 110,000 specific observations. This design allowed the team to observe changes within the same individuals over more than a decade.

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The investigation first identified factors that predicted which participants would remain single. The analysis revealed that men were more likely than women to remain unpartnered throughout their twenties. Higher educational attainment also predicted a longer duration of singlehood. This aligns with sociological theories that young adults may trade off relationship goals to pursue academic degrees.

Living arrangements played a prominent role in predicting relationship status. Young adults living alone or with their parents were less likely to enter a relationship compared to those living with roommates. The data also revealed a reciprocal link between well-being and relationship status. Participants who reported lower life satisfaction or higher loneliness were more likely to remain single in subsequent years. This suggests a selection effect where initial well-being influences dating success.

“Our results demonstrate that both socio-demographic factors such as education and psychological characteristics such as current well-being help predict who will enter into a romantic relationship and who won’t,” said Michael Krämer.

The study then compared the well-being trajectories of those who stayed single against those who eventually found a partner. At age 16, there were minimal differences between the two groups. Both groups started with similar levels of happiness and social connection. As participants aged, however, their paths diverged. Consistent singles reported a steady decrease in life satisfaction relative to their partnered peers. They also experienced a sharper increase in feelings of loneliness. These deficits became most apparent in the late twenties.

The trends for depressive symptoms followed a slightly different pattern. Differences between singles and partnered individuals were not statistically significant in the early years of the study. By age 23, a gap emerged. Consistent singles began to report higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to those in relationships. This delayed onset suggests that the emotional toll of singlehood may accumulate over time. It may also reflect increasing social pressure as individuals age past the normative time for finding a partner.

The researchers looked for differences based on gender and socioeconomic status. The results showed that these patterns were largely consistent across demographic groups. Both men and women experienced similar declines in well-being associated with prolonged singlehood. This challenges the popular notion that women are happier being single than men. It also suggests that higher income or education does not insulate singles from the emotional costs of lacking a partner.

The researchers also isolated the specific impact of entering a first romantic relationship. When a participant transitioned from singlehood to partnership, their life satisfaction increased. This transition also corresponded with a decrease in reported loneliness. These benefits were observed in the first year of the relationship and persisted over time.

However, entering a relationship did not lead to a statistically significant change in depressive symptoms. This suggests that while partnerships improve life evaluation and social connection, they may not alleviate underlying mood issues. The study highlights that the first romantic relationship is a major developmental milestone. Missing this milestone appears to carry moderate risks for psychological adjustment.

The findings paint a picture of a potential cycle. Low well-being predicts staying single longer. Simultaneously, staying single longer leads to further decreases in well-being. This creates a compounding effect as young adults move toward their thirties.

“This suggests that entering a first relationship may become more difficult when people are in their late twenties – especially since lower well-being also increases the likelihood of remaining single for longer,” Krämer noted.

The authors noted several limitations to their analysis. The study relied on observational data rather than experimental manipulation. While the statistical methods accounted for stable personal traits, other unmeasured factors could influence the results. The definition of singlehood focused on committed romantic relationships. It did not account for casual dating or sexual encounters that might impact well-being.

Additionally, the data came from Western European nations. The findings may not apply to cultures with different social norms regarding marriage and dating. The study also stopped at age 29. It remains unclear if the trends continue into the thirties or if singles eventually adapt to their status.

Future inquiries should investigate why these well-being gaps widen with age. Researchers could examine whether social stigma or peer pressure plays a larger role as individuals approach thirty. It would also be beneficial to distinguish between those who choose singlehood voluntarily and those who are involuntarily single. Understanding these nuances could help mental health professionals support young adults navigating this life stage.

The study, “Life Satisfaction, Loneliness, and Depressivity in Consistently Single Young Adults in Germany and the United Kingdom,” was authored by Michael D. Krämer, Julia Stern, Laura Buchinger, Geoff MacDonald, and Wiebke Bleidorn.