A major study of more than 17,000 young people in Germany and the UK finds that staying single into the late twenties is linked to lower life satisfaction and more loneliness. The findings highlight both the benefits of a first romantic relationship and the risks of prolonged singlehood for mental well-being.
Being single is often celebrated today as a sign of independence and self-determination. Social media and pop culture promote ideas like self-partnership, solo living and singlehood as empowering lifestyle choices.
But new research led by the University of Zurich suggests that staying single for a long time in young adulthood can quietly chip away at well-being.
Drawing on data from more than 17,000 young people in Germany and the United Kingdom, psychologists tracked participants annually from age 16 to 29. None of the participants had been in a romantic relationship when the study began, giving researchers a rare chance to follow people from their first experiences of dating and partnership.
The team, co-led by Michael Krämer, a senior researcher in the University of Zurich’s Department of Psychology, first asked who tends to remain single longer. Their analysis found that men, people with higher levels of education, those with lower current well-being, and those living alone or with a parent were, on average, more likely to stay single over extended periods.
Krämer noted that the results show that both social background and psychological factors matter when it comes to entering a first relationship.
“Our results demonstrate that both socio-demographic factors such as education and psychological characteristics such as current well-being help predict who will enter into a romantic relationship and who won’t. The findings, which indicate a link between a stronger educational focus and postponing committed relationships, also align with previous sociological research,” he said in a news release.
In other words, some young adults may be delaying relationships because they are investing heavily in their education or career. At the same time, those who already feel less satisfied with life may find it harder to start a relationship, which can then reinforce their isolation.
The researchers then looked at how three key aspects of mental health — life satisfaction, loneliness and depressive symptoms — changed over time for two groups: young adults who remained consistently single and those who eventually entered a romantic relationship.
Over the years, a clear pattern emerged. Young adults who stayed single over an extended period experienced a gradual decline in life satisfaction and increasing feelings of loneliness. These gaps in well-being became more pronounced in the late twenties, the age when many peers are settling into long-term partnerships.
By that stage, symptoms of depression also tended to rise among long-term singles. The overall trends were similar for men and women, suggesting that the emotional costs of prolonged singlehood are not limited to one gender.
The study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, also examined what happens when young people do finally enter their first romantic relationship. The shift was striking. As soon as participants started a partnership, their well-being improved on several fronts: they reported higher life satisfaction and felt less lonely, both in the short term and over the longer term.
However, the researchers did not see the same clear effect on depressive symptoms. That suggests that while a first relationship can boost happiness and reduce isolation, it may not be enough on its own to address deeper or more persistent mental health problems.
Taken together, the findings point to a moderate but meaningful risk for young adults who remain single for many years.
“Overall, our findings show that remaining single for a prolonged period in young adulthood is associated with moderate risks to well-being,” Krämer added.
Importantly, the differences between long-term singles and those who partnered up later were small during adolescence. The gap widened only as singlehood stretched into the late twenties. That timing may matter for both social and psychological reasons. By that age, many people feel more pressure — from peers, family or themselves — to have relationship experience or be in a committed partnership.
Krämer noted that this growing gap may also make it harder for long-term singles to change course.
“This suggests that entering a first relationship may become more difficult when people are in their late twenties – especially since lower well-being also increases the likelihood of remaining single for longer,” he added.
The study does not argue that everyone should rush into a relationship or that singlehood is inherently bad. Many people are happily single, and relationships can also be sources of stress or conflict. Instead, the research highlights that, on average, staying single throughout the key developmental years of 16 to 29 carries emotional downsides that can build over time.
For educators, counselors and health professionals, the findings underscore the importance of paying attention to young adults who feel stuck on the sidelines of romantic life, especially as they approach their late twenties. Supporting social connections, addressing loneliness and promoting mental health may help reduce the risks linked to prolonged singlehood.
The work also adds nuance to public conversations about singlehood and empowerment. While celebrating independence, it suggests, society should not overlook the basic human need for close, supportive relationships — and the quiet struggles of those who find it hardest to form them.
Source: University of Zurich