Statistics

The temptation to swear off dating gets stronger with every Ashley Madison hack, celebrity breakup, and creep exposed on Tinder - but according to new research from eHarmony, Americans are far from ready to throw in the towel and become cynical single curmudgeons.

The report, titled "The Happiness Index: Love and Relationships in America", reveals that 64% of Americans are “very happy” in their romantic relationships and just 19% say they're unhappy to some degree. eHarmony commissioned the report and it was conducted by Harris Interactive. 2,084 online interviews were conducted for the survey.

"At eHarmony, we talk a lot about happiness in relationships and how to keep them going strong," says Grant Langston, chief executive officer for eHarmony, in a statement. "We wanted to put society to the test and get a sense of how couples are living and loving in America today. Perhaps the most surprising finding is that gender and age dynamics in relationships are evolving, debunking misconceptions long held about both men and Millennials."

The holidays are here, and that means cuffing season is in full swing as daters look to settle down with a significant other.

Cuffing season starts as the weather gets cooler and people look to snuggle up with a partner, or be “cuffed” to someone instead of remaining single. The holidays definitely amplify this tendency, as we are bombarded with pictures of happy families and people kissing under the mistletoe, Christmas lights sparkling. It can make you feel like something is missing if you aren’t in a relationship.

The truth is, cuffing has been around for a while, even if the term is relatively new. According to research, more babies are born in the late summer months than any other time of year, thanks to couples getting cozy during the long, cold winter months. Additional studies that show there is a physiological increase in testosterone and estrogen levels during the winter. So biologically, our bodies are programmed to snuggle up with someone special during this time of year.

Cheating. Adultery. Stepping out. Having an affair. Two-timing. Infidelity. Extracurricular activities.

We have a number of words for it, and an equally plentiful number of excuses for doing it. A new survey from Ashley Madison, the infamous online dating service that caters to extramarital encounters and claims more than 56 million members worldwide, has uncovered the most common reasons people cheat on their partners.

Ashley Madison teamed up with YourTango to ask 1,300 male and female respondents about how and why they partake in their illicit affairs. You may think the answer is simple - one too many drinks, and suddenly otherwise-attached strangers are hooking up in a grungy bar bathroom - but in fact, the act is often more premeditated than that.

“Money can’t buy me love,” said The Beatles, but Australian singles are determined to prove them wrong. According to ING Direct’s 2017 Cost of Dating report, Aussies happily hand over nearly $12 billion per year in the name of finding their happily ever afters.

The exact figure is $11.65 billion, a price tag that’s sure to induce sticker shock in almost any dater, regardless of how deep their pockets run. Australians reportedly spend an average of $79 on a first date, with one third of singles going on at least one first date per month, and a further 32% going on two or more first dates per month. Additionally, almost one in five (18%) have paid for dating services, an expenditure that tallies up to $80.7 million each year.

When it comes to first dates, Australians err on the side of tradition. More than half (56%) of single men are prepared to pick up the tab. Baby Boomer males (33%) are particularly committed to this classic notion of romantic chivalry, followed closely by Gen X men (27%) and Millennial men (26%).

Spring cleaning isn’t just for your home. According to Facebook data analysts, the season is also prime time for daters to “clear the clutter” in their love lives - in other words, it’s breakup season.

In a paper from 2014, Lars Backstrom of Facebook and Jon Kleinberg of Cornell University analyzed user data from Facebook in search of insight into modern love lives. Amongst other things, they found that:

• About half of all Facebook relationships that have survived three months are likely to survive to four years or longer
• Heterosexual couples are generally around the same age, even as they get older
• Same-sex couples display the stereotypical age gap as they grow older, leveling off at about 4.5 years difference after age 38
• How much interest couples have in each other is a better predictor of love than having a lot of friends in common

It’s election season, and one thing is certain: there are different attitudes, habits, and priorities among people living in different regions of the United States. But it's not just about politics - some regional differences hold up in other parts of life, including dating habits and preferences.

Online dating service Badoo recently surveyed 1,000 of its users across different regions of the U.S. to compare and contrast their dating habits, taking into consideration age, gender and sexuality.

Some of the findings include: