December 13, 2024 11:08 AM IST
A new study shows that single women, on average, report higher levels of relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction and less desire for a partner.
The researchers found that single women reported higher satisfaction with their relationship status, overall life and sexual experience, and expressed a lower desire to have a romantic partner compared to single men. A recent study was published in Social Psychological and Personality Science.
Read more about the study
Much of relationship science focuses on the experiences of partners, leaving gaps in understanding the well-being of single people, researchers say. They added that they were motivated by the growing recognition of singleness as an important relationship status that is underrepresented in research.
They also wanted to highlight how stereotypes – societal narratives that often portray single women as lonely or unfulfilled, while portraying single men as desirable and content – persist despite the facts that suggest women may generally report greater well-being than men.
The researchers combined data from 10 existing studies conducted between 2020 and 2023. These studies included a total of 5,941 participants who were not in a romantic relationship at the time of data collection. The sample was equally divided between men and women, with participants ranging in age from 18 to 75 years and a mean age of 31.7 years.
Participants completed questionnaires assessing their satisfaction with current relationship status, overall life satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and desire to have a romantic partner. These measures were matched across studies to ensure consistency, and data were analyzed using statistical models that accounted for potential differences between samples.
What the study showed
The results show that single women, on average, report higher levels of relationship satisfaction, life satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and less desire for a partner. The exploratory analysis showed a significant gender relationship with age and ethnicity, the researchers said. Overall, these results show that women are, on average, happier alone than men, they added.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor for any health concerns.
