People who have not experienced a romantic relationship in their 20s report greater life satisfaction than peers who are partnered at that age. Additionally, staying single in youth is associated with higher earnings. This conclusion comes from researchers at the Dutch Interdisciplinary Institute of Demography, with results published in Wiley Online Library. (Source: Wiley Online Library, attribution for data)
The researchers set out to determine whether loneliness could have a positive influence on mental well-being. They studied 1,003 German adults who began living independently early in life. Some participants had brief histories of cohabitation or marriage but later separated. The study tracked two main outcomes: life satisfaction and earnings. (Source: Dutch Interdisciplinary Institute of Demography, attribution for data)
Findings show that adult men who formed relationships immediately after moving and then ended them quickly reported lower life satisfaction than those who remained without a partner in youth. Among women in their 20s, those who experienced romantic or marital relationships tended to report reduced life satisfaction in the year after separation. Yet, in the years that followed, these women tended to enjoy levels of happiness comparable to those who remained single in youth. (Source: Dutch Interdisciplinary Institute of Demography, attribution for data)
The study also found that single young men and women earned more than their peers who were in relationships, though this earnings gap tended to diminish over time. In several cases, men’s earnings rose after experiencing separation from a partner. (Source: Dutch Interdisciplinary Institute of Demography, attribution for data)
Researchers express hope that future work will explore whether loneliness in youth has lasting effects on other life domains, such as career progression and long-term well-being. (Source: Dutch Interdisciplinary Institute of Demography, attribution for data)
Why might loneliness be linked to health outcomes? Contemporary scholars suggest a combination of social, psychological, and behavioral pathways could underlie these associations. The evidence points to a nuanced picture: for some individuals, early independence and choice to remain single may align with higher self-determined satisfaction and later earnings, while for others the absence of a steady partnership could interact with stressors and social resources in ways that shape lifelong trajectories. These questions remain fertile ground for ongoing inquiry, and they invite policymakers, educators, and clinicians to consider how youth social experiences intersect with later economic and mental health outcomes. (Source: Dutch Interdisciplinary Institute of Demography, attribution for data)