Anyone who's been through a bad breakup knows the struggle of being single again. Your whole life has changed and it can be tricky to adjust, especially when it feels like your ex is doing just fine.
Part of the problem may be that men face far more social pressure to repress their feelings and not talk about them with their peers. But talking through things with your friends can help, and it's something that women do better than men, according to Jack Duckett, a Senior Consumer Lifestyles Analyst at Mintel. Women are "typically better at creating support groups with whom they can discuss their thoughts and feelings, putting less pressure on the need for a relationship," he told Moneyish.
Related: The Single Man's Guide to Valentines' Day
Men, on the other hand, have a harder time opening up—and without a partner to confide in, they could feel especially uncomfortable.
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"[With] many men still largely finding it difficult to be open about their thoughts and feelings, the absence of a partner could mean that they have no one they can talk with about issues affecting them,” Duckett told Moneyish. "With this in mind, it is perhaps unsurprising that unattached males struggle to enjoy their single status."
Related: How to Survive Serious Relationship Talks
In a blog post about the survey, Duckett also noted that many men and women are now pursuing a way of life that isn't conducive to a relationship.
“It is easy to assume that all singletons are actively looking for a partner; however, our data shows that this is far from always being the case," Duckett wrote. "Much of this reluctance to look for a partner can be attributed to the young increasingly prioritizing their education, careers and financial stability over being in relationships.” (If this sounds like you, check out the 5 Worst Jobs for Your Marriage and see if yours is on the list)
