Pursuing Relationships or Avoiding Singlehood? Differentiating Singles' Fear of Being Single, Desire for a Relationship, and Satisfaction With Relationship Status

ABSTRACT Attitudes toward singlehood have been operationally and methodologically framed in different ways, with some focused on desire for relational pursuit, some on satisfaction or contentment with singlehood, and others focused on negative affect or experiences associated with singlehood. The present research explores whether measures such as fear of being single (FOBS), desire for a relationship (DFR), and satisfaction with relationship status (SWRS) represent distinct perspectives associated with singlehood experiences or, conversely, a general attitude toward relationship status. In two samples of singles ( N 1A = 172, N 1B = 257), the three measures loaded onto distinct factors. Exploratory analyses revealed distinct associations with well‐being, relationship pursuit tendencies, and perceived rewards/costs of singlehood and relationships. Results suggest that unique experiences of singlehood and relationships associated with FOBS, DFR, and SWRS reflect distinct motivational underpinnings. Careful consideration of research goals and implications should be used when selecting different operational and methodological framings of attitudes toward relationship status.