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In the November 2003 research in which more than 1,000 single
adults living in the U.S. were surveyed, 51% of singles who
said they had faced a doomed relationship as the holidays
approached indicated they stayed in the relationship to avoid
hurting the person they were dating during the holidays.
Thirteen percent stayed because they didn't want to face the
winter holidays alone, and 3% stayed because they wanted to
receive holiday gifts from the person they were dating. Only
33% indicated they ended the relationship before the holiday
season started. Women, often thought to be more sentimental
about relationships than men, were less likely to have stayed
in the relationship during the holiday season and more likely
to have ended the relationship than were men.
"It's generally unrealistic to expect a good outcome from
staying in a bad relationship, even during the holidays,"
said Trish McDermott, Vice President of Romance and resident
dating expert at Match.com. "It's understandable, and
commendable that most singles care enough about the person
they are dating to go through the holiday season with them,
hoping to make a little merry and delay an ultimate breakup,
but they may send the wrong message, one of abiding love and
commitment, to their family, friends and the person they're
dating if they bring their doomed date home for the holidays
this year." TOP
Eighty-seven percent of singles surveyed indicated they were
optimistic they would enjoy the upcoming winter holidays, up
from the 64% of singles who reported this last year. Women
were more like than men to indicate they felt optimistic. Of
the singles who celebrate these holidays, 63% indicated they
will head home for Thanksgiving, and 71% said they plan to
spend Christmas with their families. Thirty-one percent of
singles admitted they do feel pressure about being single
during the holidays, but singles were most likely to say they
put themselves under the most pressure. Singles indicated that
women in their lives, including mothers, best friends,
grandmothers, aunts and sisters, were more likely than men in
their lives to pressure them about their solo status.
The Holiday Office
Party
Twenty-seven percent of singles who will be
attending office holiday parties where dates are welcome
intend to bring dates. Thirty-two percent believe their office
parties should include mistletoe, although only 3% indicate
they have plans to romantically kiss a co-worker at the party
this year. Three percent also indicate they expect they will
have morning-after regrets regarding their behavior at the
office holiday party. TOP
What Singles Want
For Christmas This Year
When asked how much they expected the person they
are dating to spend on them for Christmas this year, 51% of
singles said that it's not about money and the amount doesn't
matter, down from the 63% of singles who reported this last
year. Ten percent of men and 15% of women expect their dates
to spend $100 or more on gifts for them this year (See
Gift Giving
Guidelines for your first year together). Three
percent of singles said they would break up with someone who
gave them a cheap or thoughtless Christmas or Chanukah
present, 18% were unsure and 78% said they would not break up.
Twenty percent of single women indicated
they prefer to date metrosexual men, defined as straight men
who are into designer clothes, art, fashion, home decor and
shopping. Thirty-six percent of single women were unsure about
their desire for metrosexual men and 44% indicated that
metrosexual men aren't their type. When asked if they would
define themselves as a metrosexual man, 20% of the single men
surveyed said yes, 66% said no and 13% were unsure. TOP
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