Two-thirds of single parents experienced a post-breakup “glow-up”—a” term fueled by pop culture and social media (#GlowUp has over 10 billion views on TikTok). According to new research commissioned by Stir, the #1 dating app for single parents, 77% of respondents attribute their “glow-up” to an improved relationship with themselves—boosting their self-confidence and helping 49% feel more dateable than ever. Managing the demands of parenting and personal challenges can make a glow-up feel especially difficult to achieve, yet it’s precisely these struggles that lead to a deeper, more impactful transformation for single parents and lead 82% to feel like their best days are still ahead of them.

“Single parents are rediscovering their confidence and identity outside their relationships with their children and their ex, and it’s making them more attractive both to themselves and potential partners,” says Rachel DeAlto, Dating Expert, Stir. “As they focus on personal growth and self-care, they’re showing that confidence, maturity, and emotional well-being are not only key to thriving as a parent but also essential to building meaningful connections.”

Key research findings include:

Single Parents are Glow-Getters

The glow-up and grow-up phases of single parenthood often go hand in hand, with the average single parent taking about 11 months of self-rediscovery before returning to dating. Someone who is nailing the balance between parenting and self-care. They are confident in who they are (57%), with single moms even highlighting that their post-breakup confidence has made them more dateable than ever (50%)! They feel better about themselves than ever before (52%), and are fully embracing who they are (51%). In addition, a new “grow-up” phase of transformation is being ushered in as evidenced by single parents shedding past versions of themselves (51%), letting go of negativity, and ultimately evolving into a more mature version of themselves (57%).

Turning Heads and Hearts

Once single parents hit their stride in self-discovery, they’re realizing that confidence is the ultimate key to dating success. What makes them feel attractive—maturity (55%), care and attention (54%), and responsibility (54%)—is exactly what they’re looking for in a potential partner. In fact, more than half (54%) say they’re getting approached by potential dates more now than before kids, and single dads (39%) credit their emotional growth for making them more dateable than ever. Confidence truly is contagious!

Balancing Passion and Purpose

Single parents are channeling their glow-up and growth to overcome the challenges of solo parenting and find new ways to prioritize their own passions and well-being. Many are investing more time with family and friends (41%), while single dads are hitting the gym (35%) and reconnecting with nature (51%) to reignite their passions. Single moms are making self-care a priority (41%), stepping out of their comfort zones, indulging in culinary adventures, and taking classes to learn something new (28%). They’re not just surviving—they’re thriving.

*This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 single parents of children who are under 18 was conducted by market research company We Are Talker on behalf of Stir in December 2024.

About Stir

Stir is the leading dating app for the 20M single parents in the US that are oftentimes underserved on mainstream dating apps. Stir encourages single parents to rediscover their spontaneous and flirty identities and connect with others who not only understand their life, but live it themselves. Stir is available on the iOS App Store and Google Play. For more information visit www.stir.com.