The idea of singlehood has evolved over the years, with many people opting for single lives. However, a new study challenges the notion that single people are not equally content or healthy compared to those in long-term relationships. Published in Psychological Science, this study found that people who remain single throughout their lives tend to have lower life satisfaction scores, different personality traits, and may face economic and medical disadvantages as they grow older.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Bremen, compared 77,000 Europeans over the age of 50, focusing on lifelong singles versus those in relationships. The results indicated that lifelong singles scored lower on life satisfaction and exhibited traits like lower extraversion, lower conscientiousness, and reduced openness to experience compared to partnered individuals. This finding directly contrasts with previous research, which often suggested that being single could lead to greater personal freedom and happiness, with single individuals typically seen as enjoying more independence and social connections.

Earlier studies typically focused on single people at a specific moment in time, either considering those who are currently single or those who have never been married. However, this new research takes a deeper look by exploring individuals who have never been in a serious long-term relationship. It shows that these people tend to score even lower on life satisfaction and personality traits than those who were once in a relationship. This distinction is significant because it highlights the impact of never having experienced a committed partnership, which previous studies may have overlooked.

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Representational image | Canva
Representational image | Canva

"When there are differences, they might be especially important in elderly people who face more health issues and financial issues," said Julia Stern, one of the lead authors and a senior researcher at the University of Bremen. "They need more help, and the help is usually the partner," she added. This finding emphasizes the support that relationships can provide, particularly as people age and may need assistance with health or financial matters.

Previous studies tended to overlook the potential social and economic support that relationships offer. In contrast, this new study underscores the importance of having a partner, especially in later years, when people may need more help due to health or financial issues. While many earlier studies suggested that single people might have stronger social networks or more independence, the findings of this study suggest that these benefits do not outweigh the challenges faced by lifelong singles, particularly as they age.

Interestingly, the study also found cultural differences. In countries with higher marriage rates, such as those in Southern Europe, single people reported even lower life satisfaction, indicating that societal expectations around marriage may play a significant role in how single people perceive their own lives. This contrasts with some previous research that downplayed the societal pressures on single individuals, suggesting that singlehood is often a personal choice without much external influence.

Another key difference in the study is the gender comparison. While past studies indicated that women might fare better than men in singlehood, this study found that single women scored higher on life satisfaction than single men. Older singles also reported higher life satisfaction than middle-aged singles, suggesting that acceptance of singlehood increases with age. This is a notable shift from earlier studies that often viewed singlehood as a more challenging or undesirable status.