New Survey Shows Who Enjoys The Cuffing Season The Most

Winter is coming. There's a lot to love about winter, from seeing your family during holidays to sitting by the fire sipping on hot cocoa. Some people aren't big fans of winter, as it means less sunshine and more time indoors which can lead to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as people feel more alone.

Winter is also the time for cuffing season. "Cuffing season is the search for someone to shack up with or exclusively date during the holidays and colder winter months," Samantha Burns, a psychologist and dating coach, told WebMD. She added that people prefer "more exclusive, committed dating" in the colder months rather than running around in the cold trying to date.

Psychologist Lisa Marie Bobby, Ph.D., host of the Love, Happiness & Success podcast, told WebMD, "There's this evolutionary pull to connect with other humans, which is often subconscious." Humans are social animals, and it's natural for us to seek human connection. However, for some people, it's because of social pressures rather than human desires. "It can be argued that as a species, we are designed on a very basic instinctual level to be with others as loneliness can kill, and we feel those lows in emotion, particularly in the seasonal holidays," registered BPS psychologist Lilly Sabir told Lovehoney.

Whether it's evolutionary or family pressures, a recent survey conducted by sexual wellness brand Lovehoney found that almost 60% single Americans want a relationship during cuffing season, and one gender is more interested than the rest.

Days are getting colder, nights are getting longer, and it's time for cuffing season when we enter quite a competitive time in dating when more people want to be coupled up.

New research done by sexual wellness brand Lovehoney found that 58% of singletons crave love in the winter months, from September to December, as there are 40.5K monthly google searches on the topic just in this country. About 51% said they wanted a relationship in the summer.

You'd probably think it's women who want to be dating more during cuffing season, but the survey showed that 65% of men (almost two-thirds) wanted to be in a relationship during cuffing season compared women at 56%. The number was 59% for non-binary people. It could be as it makes it easier to have a companion during the slower months to feel less lonely and have someone to do activities with.

Regarding age, 63% of millennials between ages 35 and 44 want a significant other during cuffing season compared to 52% of Gen Z folks. Even astrology could dictate your pull towards pairing up, as Taurus (61%) and Leo (60%) seek a significant other more than other signs during the lonely months, while Virgo (54%) and Scorpio (54%) seem the least interested in coupling up.

In a 2015 poll by the dating app Hinge, they found that men are 15% more interested in looking for a companion in the winter, with women's interest jumping by 5% (via Vogue).

Loneliness and boredom play a key factor in cuffing season.

While the weather plays a major role in the cuffing season, it's not always temporary. Psychologist Samantha Burns told WebMD, "The relationship could fizzle out come spring, but you could also genuinely fall in love and create a long-lasting relationship." She added that this time of the year might be great to really get to know someone and see if it can last. As cuffing season is upon us if you're looking for a short-term or long-term partner, here's what experts suggest you keep in mind.

Certified dating and relationship expert Callisto Adams told Lovehoney, "Consider your intentions and the other person's feelings before you jump into a relationship or romantic connection. Be straight and forward about what you're looking for, and what your intentions are. Think if you need and want that connection, that relationship." Being honest with yourself and your partner about your needs and expectations is important. Adams added that one should prioritize oneself and not settle just because winter is slower.

Psychologist Lisa Marie Bobby's advice for cuffing season: "Getting clear about who you are and your values and gaining self-awareness about your patterns in relationships is personal growth work that can help you make good decisions," per WebMD. You have to have to know yourself and your intentions as well as your potential partner's motives first before you seek partnership from outside.