Gender differences by age
We identified the following statistically significant differences by gender-age.
Description of church most often attended
More men (27.1%) than women (20.4%) attend a traditional type of church
More women (38.1%) than men (29.7%) attend a family focused type of church
More women (36.5%) than men (28.7%) attend a lively type of church
How helpful do you find your church leader's advice on relationships and issues of singleness?
More women (50.5%) than men (40.5%) state that they find it 'unhelpful' or 'church leaders give very little guidance'
Marriage and happiness
More men (63%) than women (48.8%) agree that being married would make them happier
Positivity Rating
More women (66.9%) than men (55.2%) agree that they would be happy as a single person and would also be happy if married
Positivity Rating
More women (79.8%) than men (67.9%) agree that happiness isn’t really about whether one is married or not
Positivity Rating
Being single, what do they enjoy?
More women (50.3%) than men (42.4%) enjoy having the space and time to devote themselves to faith/prayer
More women (53.5%) than men (40.9%) enjoy having the chance to spend more time with friends and family
Feelings about being single
More men (31.1%) than women (25%) agree that they feel as if their life is on hold until they get married
Positivity Rating
More men (40.6%) than women (33.7%) agree that they feel it is their fault that they are single
Positivity Rating
More men (25.7%) than women (16.3%) agree that sometimes people who discover they are single assume that they are gay
Positivity Rating
How easy do you find doing things alone?
More women (57.5%) than men (49.2%) state that they enjoy or don’t have any problems in going to social functions alone
More women (43.7%) than men (37.1%) state that they enjoy or don't have any problems in being amongst married couples and children
More women (48.6%) than men (26.8%) state that they enjoy or don't have any problems in being responsible for everything in their life, both inside and outside of the home
Frequency of involvement in activities
More women (49.9%) than men (39.2%) state that they socialise with close friends at least once each week
Impact of singleness on faith
More women (53%) than men (38.5%) agree or strongly agree that in some ways being single has made their faith stronger
More men (65.6%) than women (46.6%) agree or strongly agree that having a partner in their life would strengthen them in their faith
Positivity Rating
Frequency of dating
More men (50.8%) than women (37.9%) go on dates either quite often or a few times in the last year
The best way to meet potential partners
More women (52.1%) than men (46.1%) state that one of the best ways to meet potential partners is through family and friends
More men (59.9%) than women (50.8%) state that one of the best ways to meet potential partners is through online dating sites and social networks
Do you think most Christians actually practise what they believe (or are taught) about sex before marriage?
More men (31.5%) than women (24.9%) think that all or most Christians do practise what they believe about no sex before marriage
View on sex before marriage
More women (53.5%) than men (43.5%) state that sex belongs only in marriage and that they are fine with that
Importance of avoiding sex before marriage
More women (48.4%) than men (36.1%) rate avoiding sex before marriage as of being of the utmost importance
Do you think the church's teaching on sex tends to deter people making or staying with their Christian commitment?
More women (42.1%) than men (32.2%) state that they think this had an effect on someone they knew
How do you feel about there being more women than men in church?
62% of women state that they are concerned because it lessens the chance of them finding a husband, whereas 35.3% of men state that they are rather glad because it improves their chance of finding a wife
More men (20.2%) than women (7.6%) state that they have never been aware of this imbalance in the church
Would you be interested in attending an event or conference to raise awareness of singleness issues?
More women (29.4%) than men (20.6%) state they would definitely attend such an event
How do you feel your own church could better encourage its single members?
More men (68.1%) than women (58.7%) state that a member of the church leadership should be specifically accountable for singles' ministry
How do you feel about your own sexuality and sexual behaviour?
More men (17.7%) than women (9.7%) state that they feel guilty about their sexual behaviour
More women (10.7%) than men (3.1%) state that they have been abused or mistreated sexually
More men (40.5%) than women (23.9%) state that they struggle with their thoughts and feelings about sex