12 July 2004
Britain is becoming a nation of singletons with more people aged between 35 and 45 shunning the Bridget Jones-styled "smug-married" lifestyle in favour of being part of an emerging "me, me, me" generation. However, they are lonelier than ever, according to a major new research report.
The report, by Zurich and leading consumer psychologist Professor Geoff Beattie, found that being able to do what they wanted when they wanted was what singletons (76%) liked most about being single.
Professor Beattie said that for many people, remaining single was a carefully thought-out lifestyle decision.
"Whatever the reason for being single, these people are embracing the fact they have more money and time to spend on themselves. They also like being single because they have more time to socialise."
"This 'me, me, me' group is characterised by spending a large proportion of income on themselves – clothes, holidays, beauty, fitness and eating out with friends," Professor Beattie said.
But for nearly a third (32%), the loneliness of single life is the major drawback. For 17%, cooking for one was what they liked least about being single and for 14% feeling "left out" was the major issue. Having financial freedom, and not having any dependants, were cited by respondents as what they liked most about being single.
According to the Office of National Statistics, the number of people living alone in the UK has nearly doubled in the last 30 years to 10 million, and is showing no signs of abating. It forecasts that the single population will increase to 16 million by 2010.
Research shows that singletons are 38% more likely to have a keen sense of adventure than their coupled counterparts, 29% more likely to do things on the spur of the moment, and 42% more likely to spend money without thinking.
Zurich has responded to the results of this emerging group by producing Independent, Single and Sorted, a must-have guide to living comfortably as a single. Independent, Single & Sorted offers advice on being financially independent in addition to topics as diverse as travelling alone, where to live and keeping fit.
Readers can request their own copy of the guide from a specially developed website www.singleandsorted.co.uk.
Notes to editors:
Professor Geoff Beattie is head of Manchester University’s psychology department. He has featured as "resident psychologist" on a number of television programs including Big Brother and The Salon and has also made regular appearances on Richard and Judy.
The Survey Shop conducted research among a sample audience of 500 single people between the ages of 35 and 45 across the UK in May 2004.
TGI analysis was conducted using UK singles aged between 35 and 45.
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