January 21, 2025 at 1:20 PM IST
The study examines differences in the personality and life satisfaction of people who have been in a relationship and those who are single.
Romantic relationships with people can change personality and behavior. Relationships often significantly shape our traits. But what about those who have always remained single? The study, published in Psychological Science, aimed to examine personality differences and levels of life satisfaction between single people and people who were in relationships.
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Differences in life satisfaction
The research team examined data from the Study of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), a large-scale cohort study of more than 77,000 participants. The age range of the participants was from 22 to 105 years.
The researchers found that single people showed lower levels of life satisfaction compared to those who were in a relationship. This was more noticeable among people who had never been in a relationship. However, the study also highlighted that single people with good high incomes may not experience such low life satisfaction, suggesting that financial stability comes as a relief.
Differences in behavior
A study found that lifelong singles had lower levels of extroversion and conscientiousness than those who had been in a relationship. Extroversion is how outgoing and social a person is, while Conscientiousness is how organized and responsible they are. These traits were particularly prominent in older single people, who may also face additional challenges, such as health or economic problems.
Finally, the study researchers explained the need for individual social support networks, especially for older single people who may be at greater risk of isolation or lack of support. The decline in life satisfaction is more significant for older people who have lived alone all their lives and need a better support system.
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