Money can’t buy love—but it might make us more open to it, study says

Singles with higher income are more likely to want a relationship, to feel ready for one and to start one, according to a pair of new research studies.

Published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, The two studies by the psychologist of the University of Toronto, Geoff Macdonald and Johanna Peetz of Carleton University, are based on data on more than 4,800 single individuals who have been collected in the United States and Germany.

In both countries, researchers found that higher income was associated with more positive attitudes towards relationships, a greater feeling of preparation and an increased probability of entering a partnership.

“I think young people do rational calculations in unstable economic conditions,” explains Macdonald, professor in the department of psychology at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. “I think people get that they will not be able to enjoy a relationship if they work 80 hours a week, or if they don’t know where they are going to live next year.”

Beyond personal relationships, the results can have a broader impact on public policies and could help to shed light on political considerations. Research stresses how financial stability can influence long -term results such as partnership and marriage – factors that meet with problems such as the drop in birth rate and the increase in loneliness.

“People may not want to take precedence over commitment before having this economic base,” said Macdonald.

Although higher income seems to stimulate relationship search behavior, it does not seem to make singles happier. Studies found no link between higher income and satisfaction with the Cézaine.

Macdonald suggests that this may be due to a stage in life theory – the idea that people build their life step by step. A good income can help pay an improved unique experience, but it can also report a transition to a phase where having a partner feels necessary for the realization.

Although the study does not include Canadian participants, Macdonald believes that the results apply to Canada, which it describes as culturally located between the United States and Germany.

Macdonald and Peetz recommend that future research explore how other indicators of socio -economic perspectives – such as unemployment rates, debt burden and housing affordability – affecting the preparation and initiation of relations.