Trajectories of Self-Esteem in Never-Partnered Adolescents and Young Adults: Links to Patterns of Friendship Satisfaction and Satisfaction with Singlehood

Ilayda Özoruç , Tilburg University
Jeroen Vermunt, Tilburg University
Manon van Scheppingen, Tilburg University

Singlehood has become increasingly common worldwide. Despite this trend, single individuals continue to face stigma, social exclusion, and lower average well-being compared to partnered individuals. While comparisons between singles and partnered individuals reveal informative average differences, they risk portraying singlehood as a deficit and overlook the diversity and potential fulfillment within single life. This study aims to explore heterogeneity among never-partnered individuals by identifying distinct developmental trajectories of self-esteem across adolescence and young adulthood. Self-esteem, a socially embedded construct reflecting perceived self-worth, is a unique positive construct for understanding thriving in singlehood. Moreover, we examine whether singles who follow distinct self-esteem trajectories show different patterns of friendship satisfaction and satisfaction with singlehood over time. Using data from the German Family Panel (pairfam, 2008-2022), we select participants aged 15–17 at study entry and exclude those with current or past romantic relationships. Individuals are observed until they either exit the panel or enter a relationship. To identify subgroups of never-partnered singles with distinct self-esteem trajectories, we apply a joint latent class modeling approach that simultaneously models the discrete-time hazard of starting a relationship and self-esteem development. We then implement a novel step-three model to compare trajectories of friendship satisfaction and satisfaction with singlehood across the identified self-esteem classes. This study contributes to literature by examining heterogeneity among never-partnered singles, using a longitudinal panel design spanning approximately 14 years, and linking distinct self-esteem trajectories to changes in friendship satisfaction and satisfaction with singlehood offering insight into characteristics of thriving in singlehood.

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 Presented in Session 103. Singlehood and Partnerships across the Life Course