A viral video circulating on social media claims that a Swiss university conducted a 14-year study on 17,000 young people, concluding that individuals who remain unmarried after the age of 24 become increasingly lonely, dissatisfied with life, and may eventually develop mental illness.
What the Video States
According to the video:
- The study followed 17,000 boys and girls from age 16 to 30
- Participants were reportedly happy and emotionally stable during their teenage years
- Feelings of loneliness allegedly increased after age 18 if individuals were unmarried
- By age 24, emotional dissatisfaction and depression reportedly became significant
- By age 29, unmarried individuals were described as “mentally ill”
- The video concludes that 24 is the best age for marriage and urges viewers to share the message with their parents
Verification of the Study
At present, no publicly available academic record confirms the existence of a Swiss university study with the exact parameters described in the video (14 years, 17,000 participants, and conclusions linking unmarried status directly to mental illness).
Major Swiss universities such as ETH Zurich, University of Zurich, and University of Geneva regularly publish large-scale psychological and sociological studies. However, none have officially reported findings stating that remaining unmarried after a specific age leads to mental illness.
What Research Actually Says
Established research in psychology and sociology shows that:
- Loneliness and social isolation can negatively affect mental health
- Marriage can provide emotional support, but it is not the only protective factor
- Mental well-being is influenced by multiple variables, including:
- Quality of relationships (not marital status alone)
- Family and social support
- Employment and financial stability
- Personality traits
- Physical health
- Cultural expectations
Importantly, mental illness is a clinical condition diagnosed by professionals and cannot be attributed solely to being unmarried.
Expert Perspective
Mental health experts consistently emphasize that:
- Being unmarried does not automatically lead to depression or mental illness
- Many unmarried individuals report high life satisfaction
- Poor-quality marriages can sometimes have worse mental health outcomes than being single
- Emotional well-being depends more on connection, purpose, and support than on marital status
Conclusion
The claim that a Swiss university study proves people become mentally ill if they are unmarried after 24 is unverified and misleading.
While emotional companionship is important for mental health, marriage is not a universal solution, nor is there a scientifically agreed “best age” for marriage. Decisions about marriage should be based on personal readiness, emotional maturity, and life circumstances—not viral social media claims.