Single in Europe – A longitudinal, cross-comparative study on singleness.

In the last few decades there have been notable changes on a demographic level regarding romantic relationship formation, dissolution, alternate unions and cohabitation forms (Mortelmans, Matthijs, Alofs, & Segaert, 2016). Research uniformly shows an overall delay in leaving the parental home, marriage and childbearing. The number of marriages keeps declining as divorce rates go up, and the amount of unmarried people who are formally or informally cohabiting climbs. A strong increase in singleness and single households can be observed on a quasi-global scale, adding to longevity and widowing (e.g. Eurostat, 2017). In the case of Belgium for example one third of people has a single household status, for the Brussels region this is even higher with 1 in 2 inhabitants living in a single household. Predictions are a rise to half of the population by 2060 (Federaal Planbureau, 2016). The trend is observed in many European countries. Despite these developments, cross national insights have not been gathered on differences between countries and policy regimes. In this project, we aim to gain insight in the determinants and trajectories of singles in Europe. We will use longitudinal and comparative methods to map singleness in the European context.

Keywords:HOUSEHOLD DYNAMICS, LIFE COURSE ANALYSIS, HOUSEHOLDS, LIFE COURSE

Disciplines:Generations and intergenerational relations, Sociology of child, adolescence and youth, Sociology of life course, family and health not elsewhere classified