Study Finds Singles Report High Life Satisfaction Over 11 Years

A longitudinal study tracking nearly 3,000 individuals over an 11-year period has found that those who remain single report surprisingly high levels of overall life satisfaction. The research, published in the Personal and Social Psychology Bulletin, tracked 2,930 never-married German singles between 2009 and 2021.

The study utilized data from the German Family Panel and divided participants into three age groups: emerging adults (starting around age 18), young adults (starting around age 26), and middle-aged adults (starting around age 36). A key criterion for continued participation was remaining single throughout the study's duration, a condition that proved more challenging for older cohorts, with only 14% of the middle-aged group qualifying compared to 67% of emerging adults.

Contrary to assumptions that singlehood correlates with lower well-being, the findings revealed that approximately 90% of participants across all age groups reported life satisfaction rates above the midpoint of the scale consistently over the decade. "We found that while relationship-focused outcomes, like sexual satisfaction and desire for a partner, varied more between participants, singles’ overall satisfaction with their lives remained remarkably robust," stated Elaine Hoan, the study's lead author and a University of Toronto PhD candidate.

The research team employed statistical modeling techniques to examine diverse life paths among singles, moving beyond previous analyses that suggested a general decline in life satisfaction over time. The study also considered factors such as income, education, physical health, and personality traits.

While satisfaction with being single varied more significantly—with 67% of emerging adults reporting satisfaction compared to lower percentages in older groups—overall life satisfaction remained consistently high. Sexual satisfaction also showed variation, with researchers noting that individuals with higher education levels tended to report lower sexual satisfaction, potentially due to time constraints impacting social activities.

The study indicated that individuals reporting the highest levels of life, sexual, and singlehood satisfaction generally exhibited healthier personality profiles, characterized by lower neuroticism and higher extraversion. Although many participants expressed a moderate to high desire for a romantic relationship, their sustained high life satisfaction challenges the notion that single status inherently leads to unhappiness.