A comprehensive study reveals distinct personality traits and life satisfaction levels among lifelong singles compared to those who have been in relationships, highlighting the need for tailored support systems.
Published in Psychological Science | Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Introduction
In a society where romantic partnerships are often seen as the norm, the number of lifelong singles is steadily increasing. A recent study, utilizing data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), explores the Big Five personality traits and life satisfaction among lifelong singles compared to ever-partnered individuals. The findings suggest that lifelong singles exhibit lower levels of extraversion, conscientiousness, and life satisfaction, with variations based on the definition of singlehood and cultural contexts.
The Landscape of Singlehood
The study, led by Julia Stern and colleagues, analyzed over 77,000 individuals primarily aged 50 and above from 27 European countries. The research aimed to understand the psychological and well-being implications of lifelong singlehood, a growing demographic with unique challenges and support needs.
“People higher in extraversion and conscientiousness but lower in neuroticism may be more likely to be in, maintain, or enter new relationships,” the study notes, highlighting the potential selection effects where certain personality traits influence the likelihood of entering a relationship.
The study found that lifelong singles were less extraverted, less conscientious, and less satisfied with their lives compared to ever-partnered individuals. These effects were more pronounced for those who had never been in a serious relationship compared to those who had never married or cohabited.
Personality Traits and Life Satisfaction
The research revealed that lifelong singles scored lower on extraversion, conscientiousness, and life satisfaction. These differences were moderated by factors such as gender, age, and country-level characteristics like singlehood and gender ratios.
“Differences in conscientiousness between never-cohabitating singles and ever-partnered individuals were smaller for individuals with a higher income,” the study reports, indicating the complex interplay between personal and societal factors.
The study also found that never-partnered individuals were consistently lower in openness, a trait that did not significantly differ for never-cohabitating or never-married singles. This suggests that the definition of singlehood matters and could explain mixed findings in previous research.
Cultural and Individual Factors
The study explored how cultural and individual factors influence the differences between lifelong singles and ever-partnered individuals. Country-level singlehood and gender ratios, as well as individuals’ age and gender, were significant moderators of group differences in neuroticism and life satisfaction.
“Differences in neuroticism between never-cohabitating singles and ever-partnered individuals were larger in countries with a higher proportion of men,” the study notes, highlighting the importance of cultural context in understanding singlehood.
The research also found that differences in life satisfaction between lifelong singles and ever-partnered individuals were smaller the older people were, independent of the definition of singlehood. This suggests that acceptance of singlehood may increase with age.
Implications and Future Research
The findings have important implications for understanding the mental health and social support structures for older individuals, particularly lifelong singles. The study underscores the need for tailored interventions and support systems that consider the unique psychological and social needs of this growing demographic.
“Our study provides insights into the characteristics of lifelong singles and has implications for understanding mental health and structures of social support in older individuals,” the authors conclude.
Glossary
- Big Five Personality Traits: A model that describes personality through five broad dimensions: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
- Life Satisfaction: An individual’s subjective evaluation of their life as a whole, often measured on a scale from completely dissatisfied to completely satisfied.
- Lifelong Singles: Individuals who have never been in a serious romantic relationship, cohabited, or married.
- Ever-Partnered Individuals: Individuals who have been in a serious romantic relationship, cohabited, or married at some point in their lives.
- Specification-Curve Analysis: A statistical method used to test the robustness of findings across different model specifications.
Test Your Knowledge
What personality traits were found to be lower in lifelong singles compared to ever-partnered individuals?
Lifelong singles were found to be lower in extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness to experience compared to ever-partnered individuals.
How did the study define lifelong singles?
The study defined lifelong singles as individuals who had never been in a serious romantic relationship, cohabited, or married.
What factors were found to moderate the differences in personality traits and life satisfaction between lifelong singles and ever-partnered individuals?
Factors such as gender, age, income, and country-level characteristics like singlehood and gender ratios were found to moderate the differences in personality traits and life satisfaction between lifelong singles and ever-partnered individuals.
What are the implications of the study’s findings for understanding the mental health and social support structures for older individuals?
The study’s findings highlight the need for tailored interventions and support systems that consider the unique psychological and social needs of lifelong singles, particularly as they age and face increased health and social challenges.
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