NEVER MARRIED? LIFELONG SINGLES FACE GREATER HEALTH RISKS, BUT PERSONALITY TRAITS MAY HOLD THE KEY
BREMEN, Germany — In a world increasingly focused on independence and self-fulfillment, more adults are choosing to remain single throughout their lives. Now, an extensive study spanning 27 European countries reveals distinctive personality patterns among lifelong singles, offering crucial insights into how society might better support this growing demographic.
The study, conducted by an international team from universities in Bremen, Zurich, Berlin, and Toronto, examined over 77,000 Europeans, providing the first cross-cultural examination of personality traits and life satisfaction among singles compared to those who have been partnered. Researchers investigated multiple definitions of singlehood, distinguishing between people who have never married, never lived with a partner, or never been in any serious relationship.
“When there are differences, they might be especially important in elderly people who face more health issues and financial issues,” explains Julia Stern, one of the lead authors and a senior researcher at the University of Bremen in Germany, in a statement. “They need more help, and the help is usually the partner.”
The study, published in Psychological Science, found that lifelong singles generally showed lower levels of extraversion and conscientiousness compared to those who had experienced partnership. These differences varied based on how singlehood was defined, with the most pronounced disparities appearing in people who had never been in any serious relationship, rather than those who had simply never married.
To ensure precise analysis, the researchers categorized participants into distinct groups: those who had never married, never cohabitated with a partner, or never been in a serious long-term relationship. This careful categorization revealed that individuals who had never experienced any serious relationship scored lower on extraversion, openness to experience, and life satisfaction compared to both currently single people who had previous relationship experience and those in current partnerships.
While the study cannot definitively determine whether personality differences cause people to remain single or if singlehood influences personality development, the evidence suggests selection effects play a primary role. Stern notes that personality changes from relationships tend to be temporary and minimal. “It’s more likely you have these selection effects: For example, people who are more extraverted are more likely to enter a relationship,” she explains, while emphasizing that these are average effects that don’t describe everyone’s experience.
The research revealed intriguing variations across different European countries. In nations with higher proportions of singles, and in countries with higher proportions of men, certain personality differences between singles and partnered individuals became more pronounced. Contrary to expectations, a country’s religiosity did not significantly influence the findings.
Gender and age emerged as important factors: single women reported higher life satisfaction than single men, and older singles showed greater contentment with their status than middle-aged singles. This age-related finding suggests that as people move beyond the life stages when their peers are typically marrying and starting families, they may develop greater acceptance of their single status.
The study’s findings highlight the importance of developing targeted support systems for older 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,” Stern emphasizes. She advocates for developing innovative programs to combat loneliness that consider these personality differences and help older singles connect with like-minded individuals. “If they have people who care for them or look out for them regularly, this might help.”
Understanding the personality traits associated with lifelong singlehood marks just the beginning of a larger societal conversation. As traditional support systems evolve and single-person households multiply, tomorrow’s challenge lies in building communities that nurture well-being across all relationship statuses – recognizing that there are many ways to live a fulfilled life.
Paper Summary
Methodology
The researchers utilized computer-assisted personal interviews to collect data, with trained interviewers ensuring consistency across countries. They assessed singlehood status through questionnaires asking about marriage, cohabitation, and relationship history. Personality traits were measured using the 10-item Big Five Inventory, while life satisfaction was evaluated through both single-item measures and a broader quality of life assessment. The study employed sophisticated statistical analyses, including specification-curve analyses and multilevel modeling, to account for variations across countries and control for various demographic factors.
Results
The study found consistent differences between lifelong singles and ever-partnered individuals in extraversion, conscientiousness, and life satisfaction, with singles scoring lower in these areas. These differences were most pronounced in never-partnered individuals compared to those who had never married or cohabitated. The research revealed no significant differences in neuroticism, and results for openness varied based on how singlehood was defined. Importantly, these differences were moderated by factors such as gender, age, income, and country-level characteristics.
Limitations
The study’s cross-sectional design made it difficult to determine whether personality differences caused singlehood or resulted from it. The research relied on brief personality measures and self-reporting, which may not capture the full complexity of personality traits. Additionally, the findings primarily reflect European populations over 50 years old, potentially limiting their generalizability to younger cohorts or other cultures.
Discussion and Takeaways
The research suggests that personality traits may influence both the likelihood of entering relationships and the experience of long-term singlehood. The findings challenge simplistic views of singles as a homogeneous group, highlighting how different definitions of singlehood and various demographic factors shape the relationship between personality and partnership status. The study’s results could inform the development of support systems for aging singles and help society better understand and accommodate diverse relationship patterns.
Funding and Disclosures
The research was funded by multiple organizations, including the European Commission, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Max Planck Society, and U.S. National Institute on Aging. The study’s lead author served as an Associate Editor at Psychological Science, though other authors declared no conflicts of interest. All study materials and data are available through the SHARE research data center, promoting transparency and replication.
