Dealing With Singlehood: Exploring Attachment, Intolerance of Uncertainty, Immature Defense Mechanisms, and Mental Well-being Among Involuntary Singles.

Authors

Osnat R Terespolsky, Abira Reizer

Published in

Psychological reports. Pages 332941261473822. Aug 06, 2026. Epub Aug 06, 2026.

Abstract

The number of people who remain single for extended periods is steadily increasing around the world. While studies have described a decline in the mental well-being of singles, the underlying causes remain largely unexplored. This study seeks to address this gap by examining the relationship between attachment styles and mental well-being, focusing on the roles of intolerance of uncertainty and immature defense mechanisms. By examining these factors, the study aims to identify the contributors to the reduction of mental well-being among involuntary singles and to highlight individual differences within this population. Using a cross-sectional design, a total of 183 involuntary singles (average age = 27.66, age range = 25-40) participated in the study and filled out self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations and structural equation modeling (SEM) with bootstrapping procedures to test indirect effects. The results showed a direct negative relationship between insecure attachment styles and mental well-being. Moreover, intolerance of uncertainty and immature defense mechanisms were found to mediate this relationship, suggesting that insecure attachment style among involuntary singles, can decrease mental well-being through the mediating role of ineffective coping mechanisms and intolerance of uncertainty.

PMID:
42562801
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 07 Aug 2026.

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