Suddenly Jobless? Go On A Date! For Half of Single Americans, Recession Having No Impact on Dating Attitudes, According to People Media’s DatingData™ Poll

When the going gets tough, the tough go on a date.

Amid the roughest economy the U.S. has faced in decades, a new poll has found that a slim majority of single Americans report the recession has had no impact on their attitudes toward dating.

Delving deeper, the poll reveals that men are far more likely than women to be undeterred by the economy as they play the dating game. Women, on the other hand, are more than three times as likely as men to refuse to date someone who is unemployed.

People Media, Inc. (www.peoplemedia.com), the No. 1 provider of targeted online dating communities, monitors the status of single Americans through its ongoing DatingData™ poll series. Each month, the DatingData poll poses a timely question on most of the company’s targeted relationship sites, capturing the sentiments and opinions of a broad cross-section of the single population in America today.

The question on the table this month: "How does unemployment and the recession affect your attitude about dating?”

More than 27,000 single Americans responded to People Media’s DatingData poll, and a slight majority (51%) indicated their attitude toward dating has not gone into recession at all: it remains the same despite the ongoing economic strife. Among select populations, however, the poll found changes in attitude that suggest sober reflection on how best to meet people when times are tough:

• 51% -- "It has no impact on my attitude about dating:
• 24% -- "I would not date anyone who is unemployed”
• 17% -- "I would be less motivated to date”
• 6% -- "I view dating as networking to find a job”
• 2% -- "I would be more motivated to date”

"In a time of financial uncertainty, people turn to each other for comfort, companionship and a sense of community, so it’s quite affirming to learn that single Americans are as interested in dating and finding a partner as ever,” said Josh Meyers, CEO, People Media. "The number of unique visitors to People Media dating sites has grown by 15% in the past year, according to comScore. Online dating is actually the ideal tool for these times because unemployed people have more time available to spend online, and precisely because that need for a robust social life may be more acute than ever.

"Online dating membership is not only affordable, it’s an effective way to avoid those ‘buyer beware’ moments of pricey, in-person first dates that often turn out to be a waste of time, emotional energy and cash,” Meyers added. "Instead, singles can get to know any number of potential dates quite well from within the comfort of their own homes.”

While the majority of poll respondents continue to view dating with pre-Recession optimism, about one-quarter of single Americans (24%) do report a reluctance to date anyone who is unemployed, according to the People Media DatingData^TM poll. Gender plays a big role here, however: 37% of women won’t date an unemployed suitor, compared to just 11% of men who report the same attitude. Among all respondents, a small group (17%) also stated that unemployment and the impact of the recession put their motivation to date in a decline.

"Facing the challenges of today’s economy takes a great deal of energy and determination, so it shouldn’t be surprising that some people are less motivated or wary about taking on a new partner who may come with financial issues,” said Dr. Terri Orbuch, a psychologist and research professor at the University of Michigan who also serves as a relationship expert for People Media’s SeniorPeopleMeet.com.

"That’s why the fact that half of single Americans report no change in their dating attitudes is so positive and affirming,” Orbuch said. "These folks recognize that it’s better to have someone to share in the ups and downs of life, and by pursuing a relationship through online dating, they’re being proactive about bringing happiness to their lives.”

Indeed, last February, the New York Times reported an uptick in online dating despite the rapid growth of unemployment figures, reporting "those negative numbers seem to be having a positive effect on romance.”

Link: Linkedin

About People Media, Inc.

People Media (www.PeopleMedia.com) is the No. 1 provider of targeted online dating communities for attractive singles seeking meaningful relationships. The company operates 27 individual web properties – including www.BlackPeopleMeet.com and www.SeniorPeopleMeet.com – reaching nearly 4 million unique users per month. Its portfolio includes six of the Top 50-ranked personals websites, as reported by comScore Media Metrix – more than any other company. People Media has been a past partner with the Steve Harvey Morning Show and exclusively powers multiple AOL Personals communities. People Media is a rapidly growing innovator in the online personals space, which is expected to reach $1.2 billion in worldwide revenues by 2009 (Jupiter Research). People Media is based in Hollywood, Calif., and is a unit of Match.com, an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IACI).

About Match.com

Match.com pioneered online personals when it launched on the Web in 1995 and continues to lead this exciting and evolving category after more than a decade. Throughout its 14-year history, Match.com has helped redefine the way people meet and fall in love. Match.com provides a rich tapestry of ethnicities, interests, goals, ambitions, quirks, looks and personalities from which to choose. Match.com operates some of the leading subscription-based online dating sites in 24 countries, in 8 languages and spanning five continents, as well as oversees its ongoing investment in Meetic. Match.com also powers online dating on MSN across Asia, Australia, the United States and Latin America. Match.com is an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ:IACI).