Over 4,000 singles responded to the 大象传媒's Going Solo national questionnaire whose results are released today, Monday 14 October.
| 听 |  | Logo from the 大象传媒 Going Solo survey
|
The survey revealed some interesting results. Perhaps most surprising is that 61% of the respondents in the West Midlands live on their own.
Of the same respondents 25% said they mostly go out socialising alone, while 9% don't go out at all.
The survey results came from people aged between 17 and 70 who voluntarily filled in an online survey during September 2002.
These results launch a week of features on being single across 大象传媒 Local and National radio and on network television. The features are expected to uncover a snapshot of how people feel about being single in 2002 across the whole of the UK.
Below we have pulled the most poignant - or juicy! - results from the survey from the people in the 大象传媒 WM area. See the results and let us know what you think by emailing us.
听| 听 |  | Working out at the gym; could be a meeting place
|
The survey revealed that pulling in our area happens through mutual friends, the gym and the workplace.
Eighty-two percent of West Midlands respondents to the Going Solo survey felt that one of the best ways to meet new people was through their existing friends.
Other popular methods for meeting new people in the Solent area were in the workplace (73%) and whilst working up a sweat at the gym (62%).
Pubs and clubs were also a popular place to meet new people for 63% of the area's respondents, suggesting that the area's venues are better than most for finding new flames - the UK average approval for this method being 58%.
Going on holiday was seen as a good way to meet new people, with 65% of the county's singles looking for holiday romance. Over 45s particularly liked this method, with 65% of those surveyed giving it the thumbs up.
听Cilla's favoured method met with the thumbs down from the West Midlands' singles.
Blind Dates were viewed as a bad way to meet new people by 58% of those surveyed, and personal ads in newspapers or magazines were given a wide berth by 62% of all WM respondents.
听Girls just wanna have fun
| | 听 |
| 听 |  | Girls out clubbing enjoying being single
|
Single life is a happy one...if you're female:
The Going Solo survey suggested single life suits West Midlands' females more than their male counterparts. Twenty-one percent of female respondents said they were "happy" to be single compared to just 13% of the men.
Additonally, 17% of women said they felt "liberated" by their solo status, compared to just 11% of male respondents.
Perhaps it's unsurprisingly, then that 48% of WM singles don't think they will find the relationship they are looking for.
听Single men in the region are more interested in short term relationships than their female counterparts, with 34% of men looking for a 'quick fix' compared to just 14% of single WM females.
The survey also revealed 47% of WM singles are "apprehensive" when starting a new relationship. The survey showed 20% are "excited" and 16% are "scared"!
听| 听 |  | A traditional church wedding
|
Only 21% of respondents in the West Midlands said marriage currently appealed to them, while just 20% saw marriage as "my ultimate goal".
Of those surveyed, 32% said that marriage was "important if you are considering having children", but 21% said that they would "prefer to live together" with a partner rather than tie the knot.
听Let us know what you think about these results. What are your experiences of being single? How do you feel about marriage?
Email us your thoughts for the site talkboards using the link on the left.
| 
