ByJUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH

JUNE 13, 2026 08:14

Society frequently presumes that securing a romantic partner unlocks the path to greater happiness, yet long-term tracking of relationship shifts uncovers a contrasting picture.

A large-scale longitudinal investigation led by Prof. Elyakim Kislev from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Dr. Menelaos Apostolou at the University of Nicosia demonstrates that individuals often report stronger emotional health while single than during periods spent in low- or average-quality partnerships.

The authors emphasize that although strong partnerships enhance life satisfaction, enduring an unsatisfying bond imposes a greater mental burden than choosing single status.

The findings appear in Personality and Individual Differences under the heading “Do relationship changes cause changes in emotional well-being? A longitudinal investigation,” lending empirical support to the notion that remaining single proves emotionally preferable to persisting in a troubled romance.

Kislev instructs at HUJI’s School of Public Policy, earned his sociology doctorate from Columbia University along with three master’s degrees in counseling, public policy, and sociology, and penned Happy Singlehood: The Rising Acceptance and Celebration of Solo Living, now available in multiple languages.

The team examined the premise that relationship status strongly influences emotional well-being by reviewing 13 waves of the Pairfam study, which followed a representative group of 12,000 German adults.

Initial observations showed elevated well-being during partnered periods, yet further analysis established that partnership quality ultimately determines outcomes.

“This work stands out because we tracked the same people across years to observe happiness fluctuations tied to relationship transitions,” Kislev told The Jerusalem Post. “The evidence shows coupling alone does not guarantee gains. Relationship quality dictates emotional health. Poor or middling bonds reduce life satisfaction and positive feelings below levels seen in singlehood.”

Higher emotional well-being

Participants recorded superior emotional states when single versus in poor- or moderate-quality relationships, though top-tier partnerships produced the strongest results.

“Using mixed-model analysis on the 13 Pairfam waves, we noted higher well-being in partnered intervals than single ones,” Kislev added. “Singlehood correlated with slightly more negative emotions among men than women, though the gap remained modest.”

When asked why a public-policy specialist would examine single versus partnered happiness, Kislev replied that the surge in single living ranks among today’s major demographic changes, yet policy and society overlook it, risking neglect of a growing population segment.

Older adults, particularly women, typically adjust to single life by cultivating robust social ties, while younger adults near age 30 often encounter sharper societal expectations, he observed.

Because many assume any relationship surpasses single status, Kislev noted that past human patterns may no longer align with present conditions, fueling media emphasis and “matrimania” that overvalues marriage. Never-married individuals frequently maintain the highest single well-being baseline, whereas divorced or widowed people see temporary dips that often recover partially over time.

Social expectations push some into unsatisfying bonds. “Individuals enter and remain in relationships due to external pressures,” Kislev said. “The perceived stigma of singlehood often exceeds the actual strain of a weak marriage, trapping people unnecessarily.” Nearly half of American adults under 30 currently lack an intimate partnership.

An evolutionary lens helps explain ties between emotional states and relationship status, the researchers proposed.

“Long-term partnerships deliver fitness advantages including reproduction support and shared child-rearing investment, plus lowered sexually transmitted infection risks compared with casual encounters,” they wrote.

Fit and single

Single life also confers distinct fitness gains.

“Singles can direct energy toward education and career advancement that later aid mate attraction, or tackle health concerns promptly,” Kislev explained. “They may face loneliness or sadness, yet temporary singlehood yields context-specific benefits. Overall, long-term partnership advantages generally exceed those of singlehood, though the new data qualify this view when quality is low.”

The project launched in 2008 with over 12,000 young adults from three birth cohorts interviewed yearly.

Relationships were rated by satisfaction scores: 0-3 for poor quality, 4-6 for moderate, and 7-10 for good.

Only about 16 percent of respondents reported poor- or moderate-quality bonds across the study period, indicating many exit unsatisfying arrangements.

Future work will test these patterns across cultures with refined status measures.