Khaberni - Prolonged singleness raises increasing questions among many about the reasons behind the delay in forming emotional relationships, especially in light of the social and psychological transitions experienced by the youth generation.
In this context, a recent study revealed a set of factors that influence the chances of entering an emotional relationship, explaining that a high level of education, psychological state, and living conditions play a crucial role in the continuation of singleness.
A research team from the University of Zurich conducted an extensive study involving more than 17,000 participants from the United Kingdom and Germany. The study began when the participants were 16 years old, without any prior emotional experiences, and the researchers followed them annually until they reached the age of 29.
The study was based on periodic questionnaires to monitor personal and psychological characteristics, alongside social and demographic factors, with the aim of understanding the pathways leading to emotional involvement or prolonged singleness.
The results showed that individuals with higher educational levels were more likely to remain single for longer periods. Living with parents, or living alone, was linked to an increased likelihood of remaining single, while living with friends or roommates might provide better opportunities for meeting people and forming relationships.
The study also indicated that lower levels of life satisfaction and general happiness are associated with continued singleness, and that men tend to remain single for longer periods compared to women.
Michael Kremer, one of the principal researchers in the study, stated that the findings suggest that "social factors, such as the level of education and psychological traits related to mood state, are significant indicators for predicting who enters into an emotional relationship and who remains single."
In a later stage of the research, the team studied the impact of prolonged singleness on mental health, in terms of life satisfaction, feelings of loneliness, and depression levels, compared to those who entered emotional relationships during their youth.
The results showed that those who remain single for long periods suffer more significant decreases in life satisfaction and increased feelings of loneliness, with these feelings becoming more pronounced in the late twenties when symptoms of depression also begin to appear. However, the researchers noted a significant improvement in psychological health as soon as individuals entered their first emotional relationship, with similar patterns observed in both men and women.
Kremer explained that remaining single for an extended period in early adulthood is linked to moderate psychological risks, noting that the differences between those who entered relationships at a young age and those who remained single for long periods become more apparent as the duration of singleness extends.
He added that entering into the first emotional relationship can become more difficult in the late twenties, especially with declining mental health, which in turn contributes to prolonging the period of singleness.
