The reason why one in five daters are going through a breakup right now

Don’t expect to get cuffed this winter

Could it be the end for cuffing season?If new research by eharmony is anything to go by, it seems more than possible.

In a survey of daters throughout the UK, almost a quarter (22%) of singles said they’re going through a breakup at the moment.

Normally this time of year sees those who aren’t coupled up looking to cosy up and find a partner to keep them warm over winter.

Yet the eharmony Dating Diaries report suggests this may be on the wane, with 55% of daters claiming not to be interested in starting a new relationship, either because they want something casual or aren’t sure what they’re looking for at all.

Knowing Christmas is on the horizon, in the midst of a cost of living crisis, may be the final nudge for those on the edge too.

When it comes to severing ties, things are complicated, and many couples spend months in on-and-off relationships. In fact, almost a third (31%) of single respondents knew they wanted to end their most recent relationship within the first month, even though only 24% actually ended their relationship in that time. 

Reasons are varied and include lack of communication (33%) and growing apart (34%). A whopping 56% have been cheated on too – but nearly a quarter have had sex with their partner after finding out they were unfaithful.

Laurel House, eharmony relationship expert, said: ‘Where there has been infidelity, a partner may feel the need to reconcile with their ex to regain a sense of power and control in the relationship.

‘For many, a past relationship offers familiarity and comfort compared to the uncertainty of meeting someone new, which can make it hard to move on.’

The way these breakups happen is also far from clear cut, with Gen Z favouring a distinctly indirect approach. According to the report, the most common types of rejection faced are:

Breadcrumbing (sending out flirty cues without a real intention for commitment): 48% 

Not being texted back: 44% 

Being ghosted: 36% 

Laurel added: “Gen Z is a no-drama generation. They tend to be easy-going and shy away from conflict but in attempting to avoid drama, choose to end relationships in ways that can be confusing for the person on the other end.’

When it comes to what makes an ex, the most commonly accepted definition among those in relationships was ‘anyone they’ve dated exclusively regardless of how long for’ with 28% of the vote.

Perhaps surprisingly given their distaste for the traditional, a third (32%) of Gen Z participants in relationships claimed they consider anyone they’ve dated for at least a month an ex, regardless of exclusivity. 

It means the lines between casual flings and committed love are becoming more blurred – but pain transcends labels.

Two-thirds of singles (65%) have had their heart broken from a short-term relationship or situationship, spiking at 76% among Gen Z. Meanwhile, 56% of all singles found their situationship heartbreak equally or more painful as a longer, committed relationship.

It’s not all bad news though. While experiencing a breakup is nearly inevitable, three-quarters (76%) of singles have learned that they are ‘more resilient than they thought’ after a breakup, and over half still believe in the concept of ‘the one’, peaking at 60% of Gen Z.

Just don’t expect them to be your spooning partner as the temperatures drop.

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Singles are steering clear of getting cuffed.