By Stephen Beech
Young adults who are long-term single are more likely to develop depression, according to new research.
Single men in their late twenties are most likely to suffer a greater decline in life satisfaction and increasing feelings of loneliness, suggest the findings.
Being single is often portrayed today as an expression of people’s lifestyle, self-determination and empowerment – with accompanying expressions such as self-partnership, solo living, sologamy and singlehood.
More and more young adults are opting not to engage in a committed romantic relationship.
But the new study suggests that choosing to remain single before turning 30 may not be a healthy option.
A research team, led by scientists from the University of Zurich (UZH) in Switzerland, investigated how being single long-term affects people’s well-being.
The researchers drew on data from more than 17,000 young people in the UK and Germany who had no prior relationship experience at the start of the study.
Participants were surveyed annually from the ages of 16 to 29.
Researchers examined which young adults are more likely to remain single for longer periods.
They found that men, people with higher levels of education and those whose current well-being is lower, as well as people who live alone or with a parent, are on average more likely to remain single for longer.
Study co-leader Dr. Michael Krämer, a senior researcher in UZH’s Department of Psychology, said: “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.
“The findings, which indicate a link between a stronger educational focus and postponing committed relationships, also align with previous sociological research.”
The research team also looked at how life satisfaction, loneliness and levels of depression develop across emerging adulthood among consistent singles compared with people who partnered up later on.
Their findings, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, suggest that over time, young adults who remain single over an extended period experience a greater decline in life satisfaction and increasing feelings of loneliness.
The team said the study shows well-being deficits become more pronounced when people are in their late twenties, which is also when symptoms of depression rise.
Overall, similar patterns were observed among men and women.
The research team then examined how young people’s first romantic relationship influences their well-being over time.
As soon as young people entered their first partnership, their well-being improved across several levels.
They reported higher life satisfaction and felt less lonely – both in the short term and in the long term.
But no such effect was observed with regard to depressive symptoms.
Dr. Krämer said: “Overall, our findings show that remaining single for a prolonged period in young adulthood is associated with moderate risks to well-being.”
While long-term singles and those who entered a romantic relationship later differed very little during adolescence, he says the differences increased “significantly” the longer singlehood lasted.
Dr. Krämer added: “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.”
