Four in ten single French people feel out of place because of their relationship status

Key findings

• In the last 6 months, 67% of single people have felt pressure not to be single anymore
• 66% of people think it’s better perceived to be in a relationship rather than being single
• This pressure has a direct impact on their mental health as 56% of single people are affected by anxiety disorders.

Being single in 2022: between acceptance and rejection

Through the study, Badoo highlights the fact that living alone means moving back and forth between pride and anxiety. Two-thirds (66%) of those surveyed agree that being single allows them to enjoy their life more, and 50% of them believe that it offers a richer social life. If life outside of a couple can be a source of enrichment, it is under one condition: it must not last.

Although 28% of French people surveyed said they liked being single, 50% still want to meet someone. This desire increases with age. It is stronger among 35–45-year-olds and particularly among men of this age (58%). This contradiction is demonstrated in the reports from 72% of single people that they feel both positive and negative emotions due to their romantic situation. And for good reason: while 52% of them say they are proud, 67% have often felt sadness and 62% frustration.

With this information, we must ask: why is being single often experienced as a transitory state, and as a source of anxiety? What – or who – causes these negative emotions?

Feeling the social pressure: for 40% of singles, it is better to be in a relationship to be happy

Three-quarters (76%) of French respondents admit to having discussed being single with at least one person in the last six months. More than a topic of conversation, singles feel the need to talk about it as a way of relieving the pressure they say they feel.

Indeed, 67% of singles surveyed said they had recently felt some form of pressure to ditch their single life, with 37% reporting strong to moderate pressure. This pressure is felt more by women aged 25-34 (46%) and those who are separated (48%). Surprisingly, women over 35 seem to be less subject to this pressure (23%). Assuming that it is experienced more by younger women, the pressure of motherhood or marriage could be an explanation.

The origins of the social pressure

The origins of the pressure felt by single people are multiple: social patterns, family, and even friends. To a lesser extent, work colleagues also have their share of responsibility as 63% of French singles say that social pressure comes mainly from their personal or professional environment.

While nearly seven out of 10 singles say that their loved ones would like to see them in a couple (69%), four in 10 say that this wish is accompanied by some form of pressure. And for good reason: 40% of them say that their family/friends think the fact that they are single is abnormal, and 15% even say that they have received disapproving comments over their last break-up.

The impact on personal thinking

As a sign of the pressure they are under, some single people end up agreeing with many of the stereotypes held by society. Two in five say that their situation is out of the ordinary (44%), that being in a couple is the best way to be happy (40%), and even that building a life is contradictory with being single (35%).

Even more strikingly, the study reveals that this constant pressure gives rise to negative emotions. If the context of the pandemic crisis has not made it easier to meet people and has had a negative impact on the morale of single people, more than one in two also mention the impact of pressure from close friends and family. When asked about the origin of these negative emotions, 55% link this to the feeling of not meeting the expectations of their loved ones, and 53% to remarks that have been made about their single status.

As a result the mental health of singles is under strain single people are facing anxiety

Faced with multiple demands regarding their relationship status, and weakened by an anxiety-inducing health context, 56% of the single people surveyed declared themselves affected by anxiety disorders – higher than the share of the general population (42%) as measured in September 2021, proving the singles are even more exposed.

In the past few weeks, a majority of them say they have experienced difficulty relaxing (64%), feelings of nervousness or tension (61%), irritability (60%), excessive worry (56%) or a feeling of fear, as if something terrible might happen (43%).

Palpable depressive symptoms

Beyond the anxiety they are prone to, 65% of single people are afflicted by even mild depressive symptoms, compared to 47% of the general population in September 2021. In recent weeks, a majority of single people have felt low on energy (76%), have had difficulty sleeping (68%), while 61% have felt little interest in doing things.

Significantly, 58% felt bad about themselves by not being able to meet their own expectations or those of their families. More alarmingly, 36% thought about hurting themselves or thought it would be better if they were no longer in the world. These depressive symptoms had, for more than one in two, a direct impact on their work, their tasks at home or even their relationships with others. In order to cope with this distress, some invested in relationships they did not really believe in: 32% of singles said they had to put everything into making their last relationship a serious one.

An impact on their personal values

Faced with this self-imposed pressure, more than a third of single people have already made a sentimental decision that goes against their values in order to escape being (37%). This is particularly true of men (48%) and women (35%) aged between 35 and 45. While many of them betray their principles to avoid it, men aged 35-45 still appear to be more worried about loneliness.

Direct consequences on life choices

In addition to influencing their thinking, the weight of social pressure also affects their relationships. Almost two in five singles (39%) pursued a romantic relationship even though they knew it had no future. At the same time, 24% say they have had sex with people they did not like. Some women (22%) also thought it would be better to have a child on their own.
 

About Badoo Launched in 2006, Badoo is the dating app that encourages its users to make honest encounters with millions around the world. Badoo is a free service that offers additional premium memberships to users. The app is available on iOS, Android and the web.

Methodology : the survey was carried out by  Ipsos among 1,000 single French people aged 18 to 45, representative of the French population, from 7 to 11 February 2022