The Complexity of Singlehood: Desire for a Partner, Gender, and Age Differences
Amy Rauer, Nadja Kelle, Oliver Huxhold

TL;DR
This study challenges stereotypes about singlehood by showing that satisfaction with being single depends on factors like desire for a partner, gender, and age.
Contribution
The study introduces autoregressive modeling on longitudinal data to explore how desire for a partner influences satisfaction with singlehood across demographics.
Findings
A strong desire for a romantic partner is linked to lower satisfaction with singlehood.
Women and older individuals are less likely to desire a romantic partner than men and younger individuals.
The relationship between partner desire and singlehood satisfaction remains consistent across gender and age groups.
Abstract
Singlehood is often framed through societal stereotypes that portray singles as less happy or living a less fulfilled life than individuals in romantic relationships. However, this paper challenges such narratives by examining the diverse experiences of singlehood and the factors influencing satisfaction with being single. Using autoregressive models on longitudinal data from the German Aging Survey—a representative study of the German population aged 40 to 85—this study explores the role of the desire for a romantic partner, alongside gender and age, in shaping satisfaction with singlehood among the currently unpartnered. The findings reveal a significant negative association between the desire for a partner and satisfaction with singlehood across midlife and late adulthood. Furthermore, women and older individuals were less likely to express a desire for a partner than men and younger…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAttachment and Relationship Dynamics · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Family Dynamics and Relationships
