Attractive interests: shared hobbies vital for singles

Forget looks, close to a third (29%) of UK singles are placing more importance on shared interests and hobbies.  That’s according to research and internal data analysis from eharmony which reveals the activities deemed the most attractive by the opposite sex. Close to one in three singles believe that someone’s taste in hobbies is more important than how they look; eharmony internal data reveals profiles listing restriction-friendly pastimes including hiking and camping have seen an increase in messages post-lockdown, however music remains the most ‘attractive interest’.

Activities highest on the list

Pre- and post-lockdown, music takes the top spot. Men and women who list this on their profile receive more messages online as a result. This is followed by keeping fit and cooking, which place in second and third (see table one). Government restrictions over the past 18 months have also resulted in people who enjoy outdoor activities being viewed more favourably. An interest in hiking, saw a spike in messages for men post-lockdown (28% pre lockdown to 36% post lockdown) and camping a spike for both sexes (33% pre lockdown to 35% post lockdown) post-lockdown¹.  And, for anybody wondering how many hobbies is too many, the data identified listing between 11-15 as the sweet spot.  A sneaky one in ten (13%) even admit they would lie about their interests to woo a potential match, while over half (52%) of singles would be willing to take up a hobby to impress a date this summer. This rises to three in four (77%) for millennials. Long walks (15%), travelling (13%) and reading books (9%) topped the list of interests singles would start to help them make the best first impression.  

Activities that received the most messages pre and post-lockdown for men and women

Men and Women who listed camping as an interest on their profile both saw an increase in messages pre vs post lockdown. For men this increased by 4% (from 36% to 40%), and for women by 2% (from 32% to 34%). Across the sexes this is a net increase of 2% (33% to 35%)

Activities that received the most messages pre- and post-lockdown for men

Activities that received the most messages pre- and post-lockdown for women

Why shared interests can be a dealbreaker

Such is the current desire for shared interests, close to one in three (29%) single people say they would feel comfortable ending a date quickly if they didn’t approve of a potential partner’s preferred pastimes. One in five (19%) would go as far as to ghost a love interest with different tastes – with women more likely to do so than men (23% vs 13%).

19%

CLOSE TO ONE IN FIVE ADMIT THEY WOULD GHOST SOMEONE IF THEIR PASTIMES DID NOT APPEAL