- By Christina Klein
- ⏱ Approx. 2 Min Read
Single Life: 17 Reasons Explored: Why Some Individuals Remain Unattached - Unattached Lives: Why Some Individuals Remain Single Despite Efforts to Settle Down
Not everyone who's unattached is eager to change their status, but many are yearning for a partner and it just seems unattainable. Why's that? Greek researchers Menelaos Apostolou and Elli Michaelidou, in their study, identified 17 traits that can either boost or hinder the pursuit of a partner.
The high occurrence of unintentional singleness raises questions about its underlying causes, the researchers note. For their research, they surveyed 1,432 individuals (734 women, aged 35 on average, and 698 men, 39 years old), comprising both the unattached and those voluntarily or involuntarily single.
The study investigated the impact of 17 different characteristics and personality traits — vital for dating success and those that aren't. They are:
- Adaptability
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Recognizing flirtatious cues
- Pickiness
- Conscientiousness
- Loquaciousness
- Flirtatiousness
- Sexual openness
- Emotional control
- Openness
- Self-esteem
- Perceived partner value
- Sexual function
- Shyness
- Self-perceived attractiveness
- Sexual orientation
- Children from previous relationships
The study delved into the potential link between these factors and unintentional singleness. This isn't the first attempt to tackle the mismatch problem — the paradox in societies with free partner choice that have a high rate of unintentional singles. The approach of Apostolou and Michaelidou is unique because they consider a multitude of factors and explore their interconnections. The findings reveal that specific characteristics increase the likelihood of staying single despite a desire for companionship. These factors, however, differ between men and women.
Men and Women Stay Single for Diverse Reasons
The results? It's not an individual factor alone that dooms somebody to unintentional singleness. Only when certain characteristics coincide does finding a partner become a challenge. Poor flirtatiousness is a detrimental factor for both sexes. This is plausible, as flirting plays a crucial role in establishing initial connections without it, nothing happens. For women, the game is up when poor flirtatiousness combines with sexual reserve, being overly picky, and low adaptability. Then, a long period of singleness becomes inevitable.
Men also struggle with poor flirting techniques, but the detrimental factors for them form a different cluster. For men, these are: poor emotional control, self-esteem, increased Body Mass Index (BMI), and impaired sexual function.
One finding remains true for both genders: Without proficient flirting skills, nothing happens. However, these skills are merely a starting point, and affected individuals should also address the other negative factors if they aspire to find a partner.
References: Study, Psychology Today
Additional Reads:
Dating Chronicles: The Cucumber Reincarnation Wish
10 Annoying Phrases That Push a Single Woman Over the Edge
Infidelity: The Causes Behind partners' Affair
- Single
- Relationship
- Body Mass Index
- BMI
- Greece
- Singles
Insights:- Societal shifts, changing social norms, and personal preferences can impact a person's willingness to pursue romantic relationships.- Women might put a higher emphasis on career building, financial independence, or personal fulfillment, which leads to delayed marriage or choosing to remain single.- Men could fear commitment, perceive marriage as less beneficial, or turn to alternative social relationships to meet their needs.- Higher education, aging, and shifting societal expectations can also influence a person's decision to remain single.- These trends reflect common observations in research related to singlehood, with the details of Apostolou and Michaelidou's research not provided in the question.
- The study by Apostolou and Michaelidou in Greece identified 17 factors that can either boost or hinder the pursuit of a partner, including emotional control, self-esteem, and Body Mass Index (BMI) for both men and women.
- For women, poor flirtatiousness combined with sexual reserve, being overly picky, and low adaptability often leads to a long period of unintentional singleness.
- Men also struggle with poor flirting techniques, but the detrimental factors for them involve poor emotional control, self-esteem, increased Body Mass Index (BMI), and impaired sexual function.
- Without proficient flirting skills, establishing initial connections becomes impossible for both sexes.
- Societal shifts, changing social norms, and personal preferences can impact a person's willingness to pursue romantic relationships, leading to trends where higher education, aging, and shifting societal expectations can cause some individuals to choose to remain single.
- Women might prioritize career building, financial independence, or personal fulfillment, which may result in delayed marriage or a lifetime spent unattached, while men could fear commitment, perceive marriage as less beneficial, or turn to alternative social relationships to meet their needs.
