One third of single South Africans ‘love-starved’ – poll
JOBURG - A national poll found that one third of single South African adults admit to feeling depressed and anxious about not finding love.
The poll, conducted by Pharma Dynamics, consulted 529 single adults, yielded some interesting results.
Company spokesperson Mariska van Aswagen said that three in 10 respondents said being single made them feel lonely, while 12 percent said they felt less attractive.
“And 36 percent blamed themselves for their loveless situation. The majority, 89 percent, still firmly believe in true love, and 76 percent said that finding someone special would contribute greatly to their overall state of happiness,” she said.
According to the poll, the gym, book club and dance club seemed to be the most popular places for single South Africans to find love, having been voted for by 56 percent of respondents.
“More than 35 percent… said they are confident about finding their match online, while 26 percent cited the workplace, 23 percent the supermarket, 22 percent the park, and 16 percent still relied on the local pub to produce their perfect mate,” said Van Aswagen.
Over 20 percent of respondents had fixed ideas about how quickly one ought to find love, and 36 percent admitted to having long checklists about their potential partners.
“Fifty-five percent… said they find themselves withdrawing from dating opportunities and… rejecting suitors based on past experiences and preconceived ideas… The trouble with checklists is that they are based on superficial attributes,” said Van Aswagen.
“In reality, successful long-term relationships are rarely based on these. It is shared values and chemistry that are essential. Those who have rigid attitudes about romantic love are also the most likely to develop depression.”
Van Aswagen suggested the following tips to beat the Valentine’s Day blues:
- Realise that being without a partner isn’t a character flaw, and that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being single
- Get on with your life and the activities you enjoy, and stay involved
- Learn to be patient and relax a little
- Forget about love at first sight, and give love at fifth sight a chance
- Take your time, stop worrying about whether your current date is your best choice, and just enjoy the process of getting to know somebody, even if they don’t tick all your boxes right away.
