Is love blind? Maybe it’s a little bit clueless too—or at least picky. A new study from the University of Zurich suggests that people with higher intelligence tend to stay single longer than their less brainy peers.
“Our results show that both socio-demographic factors, like education, and psychological traits, such as current well-being, help predict who will enter a romantic relationship and who won’t,” said co-author Michael Krämer.
The findings come amid a growing “relationship recession”: over the past 50 years, the share of Americans aged 25–34 living without a partner has doubled, reaching 50% for men and 41% for women.
Researchers tracked over 17,000 participants from the UK and Germany, from age 16 to 29, identifying factors that increase the likelihood of long-term singledom. High-risk groups included young men with higher education, living alone or with parents, and those reporting lower well-being. On the flip side, living with friends or flatmates seemed to improve chances of finding love.
The study also found that prolonged singlehood takes a toll on mental health: life satisfaction drops, feelings of loneliness rise, and the risk of depression increases. Entering your first serious relationship, however, can significantly boost emotional well-being.
“Remaining single for a prolonged period in young adulthood is associated with moderate risks to mental and emotional health,” Krämer concluded. In other words, the longer you wait for “the one,” the harder it can be to take that first romantic leap.
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