Single men feel more pressure than women to start a relationship and settle down, study finds

A new study has found that single men in the UK feel under far more pressure to settle down in a relationship – while many British women are embracing the single life.

The findings, from relationship experts eHarmony and relationship support charity Relate, reveal that 71% of single men are worried about finding a partner, as opposed to just 58% of single women.

Both genders also admit that being single can feel isolating at times. In fact, 77% of British singles say they’ve experienced loneliness, and 45% identified loneliness as a downside to being single.

Commenting on the findings, psychologist Dr. Linda Papadopoulos says: “Surprising though it may seem, it’s single men rather than women who feel under more pressure to find a partner. They also report higher levels of loneliness. This challenges the traditional idea of the happy-go-lucky bachelor who is more suited to single life than his female equivalent.

“The reality is that single women tend to be more robust on their own. They often capitalise on strong friendships which meet many of their needs for intimacy and prevent loneliness creeping in. Men on the other hand, perhaps don’t necessarily share the same level of emotional connection with their friends, or even family members. Research suggests they also tend to miss physical intimacy slightly more than women. But there’s really no need for anyone to feel disheartened.

“People who work on building strong connections with friends and loved ones can really reap the benefits of taking time out between relationships. Meanwhile, for those singles seeking more meaningful relationships, we’d advise looking for someone with shared personality traits and values. Data clearly shows that couples who share a high degree of compatibility are far more likely to have happy, long-lasting relationships.”

The report also suggests that so-called swipe culture that’s developed with the rise of Tinder might be overwhelming singles with too many choices. One in seven singles feel ‘overwhelmed’ by the current dating landscape, and one in ten say the dating process had led them to feeling ‘burned out’.

Finally, when it comes to Christmas, singles have mixed feelings about being alone. One in ten dread being single during the festive period and a similar number feel upset and stressed.

Plus, of those who feel blue about being single at Christmas, 33% admit that being surrounded by family and friends in happy relationships is especially difficult at this time.

(Images: iStock)