By Cady Lang in TIME magazine this week.

Emotional maturity tops the list of what U.S. singles are looking for, beating out all other qualities, according to a new study by the dating site Match released on Nov. 9. It's one of the many recent shifts in dating trends that singles are reconsidering their relationship priorities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is Emotional Maturity?

1. Seekers of self-mastery. Mature people are passionate about self-development, psychology and understanding the inner workings of themselves and the workings of the world.
2. Emotionally intelligent. Life is going to be full of problems.
3. Positive attitude.
4. Independent.
5. Delay gratification.
6. Truthful.
7. Responsible.
8. Accessible.
9. Gracious and giving.

In addition to a move toward an interest in emotional maturity, the study found singles are less concerned with finding someone who is considered physically attractive. Last year, 90% of singles ranked physical attractiveness as an important quality. This year, only 78% did.

Being open-minded and accepting of differences was important to 83% of respondents; being a good communicator was a high priority for 84%.

The effect of the pandemic on these cultural changes cannot be emphasized enough, according to Helen Fisher, Match's chief science advisor, who says trends emerging because of COVID-19 have the potential to impact how we date and form partnerships forever.

The study found only 11% of singles want to date casually, while 62% said they're looking for meaningful and committed relationships.

A need for security and stability was especially apparent in the survey: Singles indicated that their desire for a financially stable partner was nearly 20% higher than over the past two years. The desire for a partner with a similar level of education and successful career rose 10% and 5%, respectively, since 2019.

Twenty-two percent more men indicated they now want to get married, compared to 14% more women.

Finding meaning in life.

Fisher notes that singles are looking to find more meaning in not only their romantic partnerships, but also in their independent lives, working on themselves and prioritizing their physical and mental health.

"This is a historic time in human courtship," she tells TIME. "I'm not surprised that those who came out of it alive grew up."