Young women widely believe that each person has a single ideal romantic partner destined for them, Turkish study finds

A Turkish study has found that many young heterosexual women in the country believe in the concept of a single, ideal romantic partner or soulmate destined for them. The study, published in BMC Psychology, interviewed 20 undergraduate women aged 21 to 35, with an average age of 22, from Yozgat Bozok University. These women, who were mostly middle-class and actively used both social and traditional media, were asked about their views on romance, relationships, and the impact of media on their expectations.

The study highlighted four common romantic beliefs: "love conquers all," "one and only," "idealization," and "love at first sight." The "one and only" belief, which asserts that everyone has a singular ideal partner, received the strongest endorsement from the participants. The study also noted that participants who had never been in a relationship were more likely to endorse this belief, often setting high standards that led them to avoid relationships.

Participants perceived both traditional and social media as influential sources of romantic messaging. Turkish television series and films were seen as promoting ideas like "love conquers all" and the concept of a destined partner, while social media was believed to have a stronger influence on idealization through idealized portrayals of couples and advice from relationship influencers. Some participants even mentioned influencers claiming to have found "the right person" through manifestation techniques.

Despite being aware that romantic portrayals on media can be artificial, many participants still felt affected by these narratives. They often drew comparisons between themselves and the seemingly perfect relationships they saw online, leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. While some influencers shared experiences that challenged the idea of love at first sight, most participants did not feel compelled to reject these messages.

In conclusion, the study suggests that repeated exposure to media messages helps construct romance as a necessary aspect of human life, potentially shaping individuals' romantic expectations in ways that may not always be healthy.