The current research aimed to investigate the association between fear of relationship commitment and singlehood. Our findings indicated that a higher fear of relationship commitment was linked to an increased probability of being single. Furthermore, mating performance, agreeableness, and relationship quality were associated with fear of relationship commitment. Specifically, lower scores in mating performance and agreeableness were associated with a higher fear of relationship commitment, while lower relationship quality was associated with a higher fear of relationship commitment. Additionally, our results demonstrated that higher agreeableness was associated with a higher probability of being in an intimate relationship rather than being single, as it was associated with a lower fear of relationship commitment. Moreover, we observed that higher self-esteem, extraversion, and openness were associated with higher mating performance, which, in turn, was associated with a lower fear of relationship commitment, leading to a higher probability of being in an intimate relationship rather than being single. Similarly, higher self-esteem and extraversion were associated with higher mating performance, which, in turn, was associated with higher relationship quality and lower fear of relationship commitment.

Previous research has shown that poor mating performance is associated with a higher incidence of singlehood (Apostolou & Wang, 2019). Similarly, we found a significant effect of mating performance on relationship status, with a one unit increase in mating performance being associated with an almost 170% increase in the probability of being in an intimate relationship rather than being single. However, the existing literature has not identified the specific pathways through which poor mating performance leads to singlehood. In the current research, we have identified one such pathway, which is fear of relationship commitment. Specifically, we found that lower mating performance was associated with a higher fear of relationship commitment, which, in turn, was associated with an increased probability of being single.

This finding further suggests that factors predicting mating performance could indirectly affect singlehood status. Consistent with this argument, lower self-esteem, extraversion, and openness were associated with lower mating performance, which, in turn, were associated with a higher fear of relationship commitment and a higher probability of being single. Nevertheless, the effects were relatively small, as mating performance is likely influenced by multiple factors other than personality and self-esteem, each having a small indirect effect on relationship status. Therefore, future research should focus on identifying additional factors that predict mating performance and their connection to relationship status.

Additionally, we found that agreeableness was significantly associated with the fear of relationship commitment, with higher scores in agreeableness indicating lower scores in fear of relationship commitment. Moreover, agreeableness had an indirect effect on relationship status, as higher scorers in this trait were less likely to be single due to having a lower fear of relationship commitment. One possible explanation for this finding is that individuals high in agreeableness have a greater capacity to tolerate relationship tensions and conflict, potentially minimizing the negative impact of relationship events. More research is needed to investigate this effect in more detail.

Furthermore, our study is correlational, so causality cannot be directly tested. We propose that the mismatch between ancestral and contemporary conditions has resulted in many individuals performing poorly in the mating domain and having relationships of poor quality. Consequently, negative relationship experiences have a lasting impact, leading individuals to develop a fear of committing to intimate relationships to avoid similar negative experiences. This fear of relationship commitment, in turn, contributes to higher instances of singlehood. Individuals may actively choose to stay single, experience difficulties in attracting an intimate partner, or struggle to maintain relationships that become fragile and end. Our results suggest that fear of relationship commitment predicts all three types of singlehood, but further research using longitudinal designs is needed to explore the pathways through which fear of relationship commitment leads to higher rates of singlehood. Experimental studies could also be used by priming various types of mating performance or relationship success or failure in order to examine the effects on fear of commitment and singlehood.

Our findings have implications for how people address relationship issues. Different perspectives offer various explanations for relationship strain, ranging from Freudian approaches attributing difficulties to one’s relationship with parents (Elliot, 2002) to systems psychology attributing difficulties to a system not working properly (Dallos & Vetere, 2021). The evolutionary perspective suggests that behavioral mechanisms involved in maintaining intimate relationships have evolved in contexts vastly different from the current environment, often yielding unsatisfactory outcomes. This insight could shape the approach of mental health professionals, such as clinical and counseling psychologists, in helping clients develop healthier intimate relationships. By focusing on specific factors affected by the mismatch problem, therapists can assist clients in enhancing their mating performance, leading to higher-quality intimate relationships and reduced fear of relationship commitment. Nevertheless, further research is needed to fully understand the impact of the mismatch problem on mating performance.

One limitation of our study is that it relied on self-report instruments, which are susceptible to issues such as participants giving inaccurate answers. Additionally, our sample was non-probability-based, limiting the generalizability of our results to the wider population. Furthermore, some of the relationships between variables we identified may be bidirectional. For example, low self-esteem may contribute to poor performance in the mating domain, while poor performance in the mating domain may also lead to low self-esteem. Our study design does not allow us to differentiate between these effects. Furthermore, our study focused on the effects of mating performance, personality, and self-esteem on fear of relationship commitment, but there are likely other factors at play that we did not include. Moreover, our study was conducted within the Turkish cultural context, and it is important to examine to what extent these effects hold in other cultural settings through cross-cultural research.

In conclusion, our findings shed light on the complexity of singlehood, highlighting the interconnected factors that influence an individual’s likelihood of being single. We have found mating performance, self-esteem, and extraversion were associated with fear of relationship commitment, which, in turn, was associated with singlehood. More empirical research is needed to better understand the various factors that predict singlehood through their impact on fear of relationship commitment.