A research team led by the University of Zurich analysed annual survey data from more than 17,000 young people in Germany and the United Kingdom. Participants had no prior relationship experience at the study start and were followed from age 16 to 29. The project compared those who remained single with people who entered a partnership later.
The analysis identified factors that predict longer singlehood: male gender, higher levels of education, lower current well-being, and living alone or with a parent. Over time, consistent singles showed a sharper decline in life satisfaction and rising feelings of loneliness. These declines became more pronounced in the late twenties, and depressive symptoms also increased at that stage. Similar patterns appeared for men and women.
After forming a first romantic partnership, people reported higher life satisfaction and less loneliness both shortly after and in the longer term. The study did not find a comparable reduction in depressive symptoms. The authors note that lower well-being may make it harder to enter a first relationship in the late twenties.
Difficult words
- analyse — to study information carefully to find meaninganalysed
- participant — a person who takes part in a studyParticipants
- singlehood — the state of being unmarried and without a partner
- partnership — a close relationship between two people
- well-being — a person's general mental and physical health
- loneliness — a feeling of being socially isolated or alone
- depressive symptom — a sign of depression, like low mooddepressive symptoms
- predict — to say what is likely to happen in future
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why might higher education be linked to longer singlehood for young people?
- How could lower well-being make it harder to enter a first relationship in the late twenties?
- Do you think forming a partnership always improves life satisfaction? Why or why not?
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