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Scared to be single? Stay choosy!

Do you worry about being single? Your fears could get in the way of that great relationship you’re hoping for, recent Canadian research shows.

If the prospect of singlehood keeps you awake at night, you may suffer from a fear of being alone. Sounds a little far-fetched? It happens to be a very real and common problem, according to research from the University of Toronto.

Basically, a fear of being single means feeling concern, anxiety, or distress about not being in a relationship at the moment or in the future.

Better than no one?

If someone is afraid of being alone, the researchers reasoned, they might settle for less in a relationship. They might be willing to put up with a partner who’s not right for them because they think being with anyone is better than being with no one.

To test out their hypothesis, the researchers first had to come up with a way of measuring fear of being single. So they asked about 150 men and women to share their feelings about being on their own.

Just under 40 per cent said they weren’t in the slightest worried about being single. That means that the rest were afraid of being alone to some extent. Their major fear was not having a companion and intimate partner to go through life with.

Settling for less

The researchers organised and analysed all the answers to come up with a questionnaire. Then they used the questionnaire to measure people’s fear of being single to see how it affects their relationships. So what did they find?

People who fret about being alone are more likely to feel dependent on a relationship that just isn’t that great, the research showed. As a result, they may stick with their partner, refusing to be the one to break up, because they feel they’re better off with him or her than they would be alone.

Those most afraid of singlehood are also willing to settle for less with a potential partner. Take online dating, for example. Fearful participants were more into guys or girls who weren’t especially attractive, as well as those who weren’t responsive – and wouldn’t make very caring or supportive partners, the research showed. It also showed that offline, during a speed-dating event, people afraid of being single are less choosy about who they’ll date.

Stay choosy

At this point, you might be asking yourself, hey, but surely nobody wants to be single – isn’t that normal? After all, it’s pretty natural to want to be in a loving relationship, and if you’re in a good one, to want it last. But the research showed that it’s one thing to want romantic companionship, but quite another to feel scared or anxious about being alone – and to seriously worry about your chances of finding a partner.

So if you’re feeling panicky about being single, be careful you don’t saddle yourself with Mr or Mrs Wrong. You could end up living unhappily ever after. Chill out and stay choosy – you’re worth it.

Worried about being single? Share your feelings on our forum: let’s talk. Or leave a comment below or join the discussion on Facebook.

Reference: Settling for Less Out of Fear of Being Single. (2013). J Pers Soc Psych. 105(6):1049-73. 

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Recent Comments (14)

  1. Hi, am a lady 27yrs old. Am
    Hi, am a lady 27yrs old. Am single and not in a relationship i always feel am getting old and am also late to get married…is it normal to feel a very late to get married? Answer plz

    1. Hi Maggy,

      Hi Maggy,

      What you are experiencing is normal. we all have our expectations of what we would like our lives to be like, and sometimes when things don’t turn up the way we expect it feels as though we are racing against time.

      You are still young. All you need to do is make a conscious decision and try an meet more new people to increase your chances of getting a mate.
      All the best to you.

      1. Thanks for your advise…what
        Thanks for your advise…what a good job you are doing love matters

    2. Have u been in love before
      Have u been in love before

  2. I talk less and find myself…
    I talk less and find myself lacking to say bt want dating

    1. (No subject)
      Hey Isaac,

      To date you would have to just be brave and approach the person you like. You don’t have to ask them out the first time you meet but you could start by developing a friendship before asking them out. Also, you can have a mutual friend introduce you or even send a text if you are not confident enough to ask someone out face to face. We wish you well. Check out the following articles for more tips:-

      https://lovematters.co.ke/love-relationships/meeting-someone/how-to-date

      Love Matters Team

  3. am in my late 22nd year and…
    am in my late 22nd year and very single.I have a relationship phobia ,i fear being vulnerable in love matters at thesame time i want to experience how it is to be in love.kindly advice

    1. Hi Joy, Getting into a…
      Hi Joy, Getting into a relationship can be scary particularly because you can’t tell whether the relationship will work or not. The only way to experience a relationship is by getting into one, decide what kind of person you want to date and allow yourself to meet someone. Be clear about your expectations from the beginning of your relationship. It is important for you to know that your first relationship may not work and you will have to try again until you meet the right person for you. We wish you well. Check out this article;- https://lovematters.co.ke/love-relationships/meeting-someone/how-to-date

  4. Thank you. I am glad you…

    Thank you. I am glad you like the article. Keep reading.

  5. It always happen to me and i…
    It always happen to me and i wonder when will i get the right companion.

    1. Hello Anthiny, in the right…

      Hello Anthiny, in the right time everything will fall in place. Just keep the faith and don’t give up!

  6. Hi,, am single.. I have the…
    Hi,, am single.. I have the confident to approach girls bt akuna mwenye anaingia box yngu.. I feel so lonely and I have a low self esteem coz my friends seem to be in love and am single. Any advice coz am getting older

    1. Hi Dero, thank you for…

      Hi Dero, thank you for reaching out to us. So sorry to hear that you have had a hard time. Getting someone to date can be difficult sometimes and seeing your friends being successful in this regard can be frustrating. The best thing to do is to just keep at it and not give up. Good things come to those who wait 🙂

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