Study reveals single people are more depressed and ‘less satisfied’ than couples

It turns out, married people really are happier.

While nine in 10 Americans get married or enter a serious relationship at some point in their lifetime, more adults than ever are choosing to stay single long term.

Though some research suggests singletons are just as happy as their partnered peers, a new study found those in relationships may still have the upper hand. 

Experts in Germany surveyed more than 77,000 adults over 50 and compared what psychologists have dubbed their Big Five personality traits.

These include extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. 

The team found people who had never been in a serious relationship were less ‘satisfied’ overall than those in relationships, as well as people who are currently single but had previously been coupled up. 

Singletons were also less extraverted and open than married or partnered adults.  

The findings come amid a slew of recent research suggesting single people are more likely to become depressed than those with a partner to lean on – and an increasing number of people are marrying later or not at all, which could be fueling America’s fertility rate crash. 

Julia Stern, study author and senior researcher at the University of Bremen in Germany, said: ‘There are differences between people who stay single their entire lives and people who get partnered, and for me this means that we have to take extra care of these people.’

In the study, published last month in the journal Psychological Science, researchers interviewed 77,064 adults over 50 from 28 countries. The majority (57 percent) of participants were women, and nearly two-thirds were retired.

Almost nine in 10 adults studied were parents, and the average age was 68.  

Of these participants, almost 5,000 (six percent) had never been married, 3,000 (four percent) had never lived with a partner, and 2,400 (three percent) had never been in a serious long-term relationship. 

Researchers asked participants to rate their life satisfaction on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 being ‘completely dissatisfied’ and 10 being ‘completely satisfied.’ 

Lifelong singles were found to be less extraverted, less conscientious, and less open to experience than those currently in relationships. 

This group also said they were less satisfied with life overall compared to those who have been coupled up in the past or are currently in a relationship. 

However, single women had higher life satisfaction scores than single men. 

Additionally, older singles said they were happier being single than their unpartnered middle-aged peers. 

The team said this could be because older singles have gotten past the period of life where all of their friends and family members are getting married and starting families, making them less prone to jealousy. 

Stern also noted personality changes from relationships may be temporary. For example, an extraverted person dating an introvert may be more likely to adopt their partner’s personality at first before their extraversion comes back. 

The team said the reason why singles may be less satisfied is unclear. 

However, recent research suggests being in a relationship creates a better support system, and couples are better off financially than single people. 

Stern said: ‘When there are differences, they might be especially important in elderly people who face more health issues and financial issues.

‘They need more help, and the help is usually the partner.’