Digging Deeper: The Link Between Self-Worth and Dating Effort
- *Written by: Christina Klein
- - Approx. 2 Min Read
Individuals with lower self-esteem expend greater energy in romantic pursuits. - Effortful Pursuit: Individuals with diminished self-worth intensify their dating endeavors
In the world of romance, singletons often grapple with the question: Why do some people go the extra mile in pursuit of love, while others seem content with a casual coffee date? A 2024 study, led by Menelaos Apostolou, Burcu Tekes, and Antonios Kagialis, sheds light on this conundrum by exploring the role of fear of being single and self-worth in the dating stakes.
The researchers surveyed 990 Greek and Turkish individuals, delving into their thoughts about loneliness, intimate relationships, and self-esteem. The results were eye-opening: fear of being single and a lower sense of self-worth were found to play significant roles in the amount of effort people put into dating.
Participants were asked to rate various statements about their feelings towards loneliness and the thought of being alone. Not surprisingly, those who feared loneliness the most were the ones investing the most effort in finding a partner. Conversely, those with higher self-esteem were confident in their ability to find and maintain romance, hence putting relatively less effort into dating.
Interestingly, gender didn't seem to play a part in this study—both women and men exhibited similar patterns when it came to fear of being single and self-worth. That said, Apostolou and co's research previously suggested that men's approach to dating might be more prone to regret and dissatisfaction due to an abundance of choices, which could in turn impact the effort they put into courting.
In summary, those who invest heavily in dating and the getting-to-know-you process may not always be the most romantic at heart. They might simply be individuals who fear loneliness and struggle with a low sense of self-worth. By understanding this dynamic, we can better navigate the dating scene with confidence and self-awareness.
Sources: Psychology Today, Study
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- The study found that individuals who fear being single and have a lower sense of self-worth tend to put more effort into dating, as revealed in the survey of 990 Greek and Turkish individuals.
- Those with high self-esteem, on the other hand, showed less effort in dating as they were confident in their ability to find and maintain a relationship.
- Kagialis, one of the researchers, previously suggested that men's approach to dating might be more prone to regret and dissatisfaction due to an abundance of choices.
- According to Christina Klein's article, the amount of effort people put into dating can be better understood by considering the role of fear of being single and self-worth.
- The results of this study, published in the journal 'Love and Dating', demonstrate that both women and men showed similar patterns when it came to fear of being single and self-worth in the dating sphere.
