Young people today are not only more likely to be single than previous generations, but also appear perfectly content with their single status, a new study shows.
The research was published earlier this month in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin said people aged 14 to 20 are now more satisfied with being single than their counterparts from 10 years ago.
“It appears that today’s adolescents are less likely to pursue a romantic relationship. This could be the reason for the increased satisfaction as single people,” says Tita Gonzalez Avilés, lead author and psychologist at the Institute of Psychology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainzin, Germany.
“It is notable that, especially in Western industrialized countries, being single is no longer unconventional and is now considered more socially acceptable than in the past,” she said in a press release on Tuesday.
The choice to remain single may also increase in Canada.
This trend is reflected in the growing number of single people.
This is evident from Statistics Canada data that 4.4 million people lived alone in 2021, up from 1.7 million in 1981. This represents an increase of 15 percent and the highest share of adults aged 15 and over in private households.
More and more people are also choosing not to get married. In 2020, Canadian marriages reached an all-time low: 33 percent fewer registered marriages compared to the previous year.
Susan Wenzel, a certified sex and relationship therapist based in Winnipeg, said not only are more young people choosing to remain single, but she has seen this trend grow among her older clients as well.
“Whether you’re 15, 20 or 30, more and more people are choosing to be single for the freedom,” she told Global News. “More people want to focus on their careers, build friendships and even travel.”
For adolescents, Wenzel added that monogamy may not have the same appeal. They may prioritize spending time with friends over traditional dating.
The study from Germany looked at data from almost 3,000 people in different birth cohorts. The researchers then collected data over two separate time periods: 2008 to 2022 and 2019 to 2021.
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This allowed the researchers to distinguish between the satisfaction of earlier-born and later-born singles during adolescence (ages 14 to 20), emerging adulthood (ages 24 to 30), and established adulthood (ages 34 to 40).
“While we know that singleness is gaining ground, we have not yet determined whether individuals are now more satisfied with this way of life,” says Gonzalez Avilés.
The study found that single adolescents born between 2001 and 2003 were more likely to be single and more satisfied with being single than the 10-year-old age group. It was also found that there were no cohort-related differences between emerging adults aged 24 to 30 years and established adults aged 34 to 40 years.
The researchers suggest that this may be because singleness is becoming more normal, especially among younger generations.
Their attitudes towards relationships have changed, with greater openness to different relationship models.
What’s behind the shift?
The shift in societal values toward individualism, personal autonomy and acceptance of diverse relationships, including long-term singleness, could explain the higher satisfaction among singles today, the researchers suggest.
This changing landscape is reflected in the youth dating scene, which is transforming according to Matt McNeill Love, co-founder of Thursday, a dating app designed to bridge the gap between online connection and real-life encounters.
Thursday takes a different approach to online dating. Instead of just swiping profiles, it facilitates real-life meetings by hosting weekly events at designated locations for singles in various cities, including Toronto.
“I think the younger generation is fed up and a little bit skeptical about dating apps, swiping, getting likes and being treated like a commodity,” McNeill Love told Global News.
“(Before Thursday) you don’t have to have a dating app profile if you really hate dating apps. A lot of younger people just want to go to a bar where everyone is single, or they want to go to a running club where everyone is single, or they want to go to a pizza making class and meet people,” he said.
And that’s what the app offers: a chance to meet in person, whether it’s for a pint of beer in a café or to take art classes.
He believes younger people long for real connections, which could explain why many of them choose to be single. Dating apps may no longer be for that generation.
“And you don’t have to do these things to find the love of your life, but you will definitely walk away with some great friends and some great connections. You will meet some interesting people, and I think that will go further,” he said.
He believes that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on this younger generation.
Years of lockdowns, missed music festivals and limited social interaction may leave many young people eager to experience life outside their homes. Finding a partner or saving for a house may take a back seat for the time being as adolescents prioritize socializing and enjoying their youth.
Wenzel agreed, suggesting that dating apps and social media may have promoted a more skeptical view of relationships among younger generations.
“TikTok and social media can scare people into not wanting a relationship,” she said. “On social media you may see people complaining about their relationships or hearing horror stories, and that can make you not want to be in a relationship anymore.”
