A new study reveals significant differences in life satisfaction and personality traits between lifelong singles and partnered individuals. These findings emphasize the importance of tailored support systems for singles, particularly in their later years.
Although marriage and long-term relationships are often seen as societal norms, an increasing number of people are choosing to remain single for life. However, a new study published in the journal Psychological Science highlights that lifelong singles experience lower life satisfaction and exhibit distinct personality traits compared to their partnered counterparts, emphasizing the need for better support networks tailored to singles.
The research team analyzed data from over 77,000 Europeans aged 50 and above. The study is unique in its breadth, examining individuals across multiple cultures and focusing on people who have remained single throughout their lives.
“When there are differences, they might be especially important in elderly people who face more health issues and financial issues,” co-lead author Julia Stern, a senior researcher at the University of Bremen, said in an interview with APS. “They need more help, and the help is usually the partner.”
The researchers assessed life satisfaction using the Big Five personality traits — openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. They found that lifelong singles scored lower in life satisfaction, extraversion, conscientiousness and openness to experience when compared to those in relationships.
A key aspect of this study was its varied definition of singlehood. Stern and her colleagues grouped respondents based on whether they had never married, never lived with a partner or had never been in any long-term relationship.
The results indicated that those who had never experienced a serious long-term relationship showed the lowest levels of extraversion, openness and life satisfaction.
While previous studies often blurred the lines by including people with past relationships, this study makes a clear distinction. The team’s findings suggest selection effects as a primary reason for personality differences rather than changes brought on by relationships.
“It’s more likely you have these selection effects: For example, people who are more extraverted are more likely to enter a relationship,” Stern added. However, she cautioned that these results are average effects and do not describe everyone individually.
Interestingly, cultural factors also played a role.
Singles in countries with higher marriage rates, such as those in Southern Europe, reported even lower life satisfaction, though religiosity had no significant impact.
Gender and age were also influential; single women reported higher life satisfaction than single men, and older singles were more content with their status than middle-aged singles.
However, even though singles may grow happier with age, their lower scores compared to partnered people are still a cause for concern. Previous research has shown correlations between life satisfaction, certain personality traits and overall health and mortality.
These findings underline the necessity of creating support systems specifically for single individuals. Stern advocates for the development of programs aimed at preventing loneliness, tailored to the unique personality traits of lifelong singles.
“There are differences between people who stay single their entire lives and people who get partnered, and for me this means that we have to take extra care of these people,” added Stern. “If they have people who care for them or look out for them regularly, this might help.”
As the societal landscape continues to evolve, understanding and addressing the distinct needs of lifelong singles will be crucial in fostering healthier, more fulfilled lives for all individuals, regardless of their relationship status.