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A new study by the Pew Research Center reveals that half of all single Americans aren’t interested in having a relationship, or for that matter, even a date.
As interesting as that may be, and it is, that number is actually down from a 2005 Pew survey.
The most recent study, consisting of a random sampling of nearly 5,000 adults in the United States, found 50 percent of single people are not interested in a committed romantic relationship or going on a date.
Millennials like Emma Watson aren’t ‘single’ — they’re ‘self-partnered’ https://t.co/U0pBWNo5Pi
— MarketWatch (@MarketWatch) November 30, 2019
Other findings…
• 10 percent only want casual dates.
• 26 percent are interested in casual dates or a committed romantic relationship.
• 14 percent are only interested in a serious romantic relationship.
In 2005, 55 percent said they were not interested in a romantic relationship, while 16 percent were looking for a serious romantic relationship.
As Bella DePaulo, Ph.D. of Psychology Today points out, however…
The 2020 study was a bit different because it started with people who were socially single rather than just legally single. “Single” was defined as not married (that’s the legal definition) and also not living with a partner or in a committed romantic relationship (those people are socially single). Of all those single people—people not currently married or in a serious romantic relationship—exactly half, 50 percent, said that they were not looking for a romantic relationship or even a date. Only 14 percent said they wanted a committed romantic relationship and not just something casual.
So why are people not very interested in being in a relationship or going on dates these days?
By far, the two most popular answers the national sample of U.S. adults gave for why they were uninterested in romantic partnering were that they have more important priorities (47 percent), and they just like being single (44 percent).
The younger adults (under the age of 50) were especially likely to say that they have more important priorities; 61 percent of them said that, compared to 38 percent of the older adults.
The older adults (50 and over) were especially likely to say that they just liked being single; 46 percent of them said that, even more than the 38 percent who said they have more important priorities. A very substantial number of the younger adults, 41 percent, also said that they just liked being single.
Considering the fact that we’re all being told to use social distancing guidelines I guess it’s a good thing so many people have little to no interest in coupling up these days.