Two million lonely hearts

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Interesting survey -to be taken with a ton of salt and a bit of humor. I do resent the term “bachelors and spinsters”. Let’s say “disserning ladies”, OK?

Some 2.2 million adults in Taiwan have never fallen in love or had a relationship with a member of the opposite sex, results of a public opinion poll showed Friday.

The poll, conducted by Fu Jen Catholic University on behalf of the nonprofit Mental Health Foundation, found that those who have never been in love have lower mental health scores (an average of 80.1 points), than those who have had relationships (who average 86.5 points). 

Yang Tsung-tsai, a doctor with Cardinal Tien Hospital's Neuroscience Center who supervised the poll, said 13.3 percent of survey respondents indicated they have never been in love, translating roughly into 1.1 million men and 1.1 million women who have not had a relationship, Yang said. 

Yen Han-wen, a sex education professor at National Normal University, attributed the large number of bachelors and spinsters in Taiwan mainly to the lack of an "environment conducive to falling in love" in Taiwanese society. 

In Taiwan, if a man invites a woman out on a date, they will immediately be labeled as "a couple," a label preventing the man from attempting to get acquanted with other women, Yen said. 

In Western society, he said, a private date between a man and a woman is just one of many ways of getting to know each other.

From CNA

Ah, the potential of this untapped market.

[tommy525]

Amazing numbers!! Accounts for all the crazy shiaojieh stories we keep hearing about when they finally fall in love only to be duped.

[Edgar_Allen]

Is the lower mental health because they haven’t fallen in love or vice versa? Its chicken and egg man, we need more information…surely?

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The Taipei times has a bit more on the story:

[quote]As much as 14 percent of people in Taiwan over 20 years of age say they have trouble developing intimate relationships, a condition that is especially prevalent among those who have been laid off work recently, a survey said yesterday.
…
Fourteen percent of respondents who said they had difficulty developing intimate relationships scored an average of 73.4 points on the foundation’s mental health assessment. Compared with the average respondent’s score of 80.1 points, those who have trouble getting close also displayed symptoms of a slightly less than healthy mental condition, said project leader Tom Yang (楊聰財), who is also chief psychiatrist at Cardinal Tien Hospital’s department of psychiatry and mental health.

Of the respondents who are currently looking for a job, as much as 21 percent say they have trouble being intimate, significantly higher than those who are currently employed (12 percent).

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http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/02/14/2003436055

And golden advice:

[quote]Yen advised young people attending parties to mingle more with members of the opposite sex, instead of only talking in cliques or with people they are familiar with.

“Being in an intimate relationship is an important aspect of healthy living,” he said.[/quote]

[Dr_McCoy]

They should come to the happy hours like the rest of us.

[TheGingerMan]

Only the lonely…

[Buttercup]

In Western society, he said, a private date between a man and a woman is just one of many ways of getting to know each other.

‘In Western society’? I hate that. Dumbasses.

[GuyInTaiwan]

Well, I think it’s a very, very deep cultural thing. In general, Taiwanese strike me as being extremely introverted and into their cliques (especially their families). There’s a family system that discourages people from ever developing any independence at any level, but especially going out and being a “bad girl” for just being seen in a bar. Likewise, there’s an educational system that is totally geared towards the group and shutting up and following someone else’s orders. Are any of Taiwan’s mating woes at all surprising?

[tommy525]

@GuyInTaiwan

Well, I think it’s a very, very deep cultural thing. In general, Taiwanese strike me as being extremely introverted and into their cliques (especially their families). There’s a family system that discourages people from ever developing any independence at any level, but especially going out and being a “bad girl” for just being seen in a bar. Likewise, there’s an educational system that is totally geared towards the group and shutting up and following someone else’s orders. Are any of Taiwan’s mating woes at all surprising?

Most Taiwanese girls and boys iv known have had no trouble breeding.

[GuyInTaiwan]

@tommy525

[quote=“GuyInTaiwan”]Well, I think it’s a very, very deep cultural thing. In general, Taiwanese strike me as being extremely introverted and into their cliques (especially their families). There’s a family system that discourages people from ever developing any independence at any level, but especially going out and being a “bad girl” for just being seen in a bar. Likewise, there’s an educational system that is totally geared towards the group and shutting up and following someone else’s orders. Are any of Taiwan’s mating woes at all surprising?

Most Taiwanese girls and boys iv known have had no trouble breeding.[/quote]

Statistics would seem to suggest otherwise:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_territories_by_fertility_rate

Taiwanese are the fourth worst breeders on the planet at 1.13 children per adult female (even the suicidal E.U. still manages 1.50). It’s hard to breed when your parents won’t ever let you out of the house, even if you’re 35.