A new study conducted by German psychologists challenges the widely held belief that our first serious relationship has a significant impact on our personality. Instead, the study found that the relationship we have in our mid-20s has a more noticeable influence on our emotional stability and self-confidence. However, the researchers also emphasize that during this period, relationships and personality strongly influence each other. The study analyzed the data of 312 young people over a four-year period, documenting their personality traits, self-confidence, life satisfaction, and tendencies towards depression. The researchers found that young people who are in a serious relationship feel happier in life than singles, regardless of their age.
The study divided the participants into three groups: those who remained single throughout the study, those who gained relationship experience during the study, and those who were in a serious relationship. The researchers then formed twin pairs, comparing the personality changes of those who entered into a serious relationship with those who remained single. The study found that those who entered into their first serious relationship between the ages of 23 and 25 were more socially adept, conscientious, emotionally stable, and less prone to depression than their single peers. The researchers suggest that this may be due to the fact that people in their mid-20s are more likely to seek a serious relationship than those in their early 20s.
The study also found that personality changes can influence whether someone enters into a relationship or not. Emotional stability and extraversion, in particular, can affect whether someone is more likely to enter into a relationship. The researchers suggest that the personality changes observed in young people may have enabled them to enter into a serious relationship in the first place. These findings are consistent with previous research in the field of happiness, which has shown that social relationships contribute to happiness, and that balanced and stable individuals are more likely to form social relationships.
