People who have not been in a romantic relationship in their 20s are more satisfied with life than those who have a partner at that age. Also, the absence of a couple in youth is associated with higher earnings. Scientists from the Dutch Interdisciplinary Institute of Demography came to this conclusion. Results of the study: shared At Wiley Online Library.
Scientists tried to find out whether loneliness could have a positive effect on a person’s mental health. To do this, they conducted a study of 1,003 Germans and German adults. All subjects began living independently (not in their parents’ home) at an early age. Some had a brief history of cohabitation or marriage with a partner and eventually separated from him or her. The study focused on two dependent variables: life satisfaction and earnings.
It turns out that adult men who entered into romantic relationships immediately after moving and quickly ended them had lower life satisfaction than those who did not have a partner at a young age. Adult women in their 20s who were in romantic or marital relationships were found to experience decreased life satisfaction in the first year after separation. However, they spent the following years of their lives as happily as their countrymen who were single at a young age.
Researchers also found that young single men and women earn more than their peers in relationships. However, over the years this difference disappeared. It has been noted that many men’s earnings increased after the separation.
The authors hope that further research will investigate whether youth loneliness has long-term effects on other aspects of life, such as career development.
happened before knownWhy is loneliness dangerous to health?