CBS News Poll – January 29-February 2, 2024

Adults in the U.S.

Sample 1,791 Adults in the U.S.
Margin of Error ±3.1 points

12. Are you currently in a committed romantic relationship?

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57%
No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43%

15. If you had to do it all over again, would you marry your current spouse again, or not?
Among those currently married
Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82%
No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18%

16. How often would you say you think back on either an old crush or a past romantic partner that you aren’t in
touch with any more?
Frequently . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11%
Occasionally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37%
Hardly ever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30%
Never . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21%

17. When it comes to the old crush or past romantic partner you think about most often... If you were to run into
that person today, how would you feel...? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
Excited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19%
Nervous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25%
Sad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%
Happy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30%
Indifferent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44%

18. Have you ever used social media or the internet to find out whatever happened to an old crush or romantic
partner that you have lost touch with?
Yes, have . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49%
No, have not . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51%

19. Looking back, do you have any old crushes that you wish you had more actively pursued?
Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39%
No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61%

20. Looking back, do you have any past romantic relationships that you wish you hadn’t been involved in?
Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60%
No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40%

1
CBS News Poll – January 29-February 2, 2024
Adults in the U.S.
21. Which do you regret more?
Among those who wish they had actively pursued an old crush and regret a past romantic relationship
Not pursuing an old crush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40%
A past relationship you wish you hadn’t been involved in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60%

*Questions held for future release.

2
CBS News Poll – January 29-February 2, 2024
Adults in the U.S.

12. Committed Relationship

Are you currently in a committed romantic relationship?

Gender Age
Total Male Female Under 30 30-44 45-64 65+

Yes 57% 55% 58% 45% 66% 55% 60%

No 43% 45% 42% 55% 34% 45% 40%
Totals 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Weighted N (1,786) (874) (911) (368) (449) (585) (383)

In a Relationship Race
Total Yes No White Black Hispanic

Yes 57% 100% 0% 62% 38% 51%

No 43% 0% 100% 38% 62% 49%
Totals 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Weighted N (1,786) (1,012) (774) (1,115) (225) (288)

1
CBS News Poll – January 29-February 2, 2024
Adults in the U.S.

15. Marry Current Spouse Again

If you had to do it all over again, would you marry your current spouse again, or not?
Among those currently married

Gender Age
Total Male Female Under 30 30-44 45-64 65+

Yes 82% 87% 79% ∗ 86% 74% 86%

No 18% 13% 21% ∗ 14% 26% 14%
Totals 100% 100% 100% ∗ 100% 100% 100%
Weighted N (721) (347) (375) (51) (220) (248) (202)

In a Relationship Race
Total Yes No White Black Hispanic

Yes 82% 85% ∗ 83% ∗ 79%

No 18% 15% ∗ 17% ∗ 21%
Totals 100% 100% ∗ 100% ∗ 100%
Weighted N (721) (682) (39) (520) (39) (95)

2
CBS News Poll – January 29-February 2, 2024
Adults in the U.S.

16. Frequency of Thinking about a Past Romantic Partner/Crush

How often would you say you think back on either an old crush or a past romantic partner that you aren’t in touch with any more?

Gender Age
Total Male Female Under 30 30-44 45-64 65+

Frequently 11% 12% 11% 11% 12% 11% 11%

Occasionally 37% 38% 36% 40% 27% 39% 43%
Hardly ever 30% 30% 30% 25% 32% 33% 30%
Never 21% 20% 23% 24% 29% 17% 15%
Totals 99% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 99%
Weighted N (1,787) (876) (912) (370) (451) (583) (383)

In a Relationship Race
Total Yes No White Black Hispanic

Frequently 11% 8% 15% 11% 9% 13%

Occasionally 37% 34% 41% 39% 35% 29%
Hardly ever 30% 36% 23% 32% 32% 27%
Never 21% 22% 21% 18% 24% 31%
Totals 99% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Weighted N (1,787) (1,012) (770) (1,118) (222) (290)

3
CBS News Poll – January 29-February 2, 2024
Adults in the U.S.

17. Feel about Running Into a Past Romantic Partner/Crush

When it comes to the old crush or past romantic partner you think about most often... If you were to run into that person today, how would you feel...?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY

Gender Age
Total Male Female Under 30 30-44 45-64 65+

Excited 19% 23% 14% 20% 15% 22% 17%

Nervous 25% 24% 27% 27% 26% 25% 23%
Sad 10% 9% 11% 14% 11% 9% 6%
Happy 30% 34% 26% 25% 25% 30% 40%
Indifferent 44% 40% 48% 41% 49% 45% 40%
Weighted N (1,791) (876) (915) (370) (451) (587) (383)

In a Relationship Race
Total Yes No White Black Hispanic

Excited 19% 17% 21% 19% 18% 20%

Nervous 25% 22% 30% 27% 17% 26%
Sad 10% 8% 12% 10% 12% 7%
Happy 30% 29% 31% 30% 31% 28%
Indifferent 44% 50% 36% 43% 46% 50%
Weighted N (1,791) (1,012) (774) (1,118) (225) (290)

4
CBS News Poll – January 29-February 2, 2024
Adults in the U.S.

18. Searched Social Media for a Past Romantic Partner/Crush

Have you ever used social media or the internet to find out whatever happened to an old crush or romantic partner that you have lost touch with?

Gender Age
Total Male Female Under 30 30-44 45-64 65+

Yes, have 49% 49% 49% 57% 55% 49% 36%

No, have not 51% 51% 51% 43% 45% 51% 64%
Totals 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Weighted N (1,785) (871) (915) (368) (450) (585) (382)

In a Relationship Race
Total Yes No White Black Hispanic

Yes, have 49% 52% 46% 53% 38% 45%

No, have not 51% 48% 54% 47% 62% 55%
Totals 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Weighted N (1,785) (1,010) (770) (1,113) (225) (289)

5
CBS News Poll – January 29-February 2, 2024
Adults in the U.S.

19. Ever Wish You Had Pursued an Old Crush

Looking back, do you have any old crushes that you wish you had more actively pursued?

Gender Age
Total Male Female Under 30 30-44 45-64 65+

Yes 39% 48% 30% 41% 38% 42% 32%

No 61% 52% 70% 59% 62% 58% 68%
Totals 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Weighted N (1,788) (874) (915) (369) (450) (587) (383)

In a Relationship Race
Total Yes No White Black Hispanic

Yes 39% 37% 41% 38% 39% 40%

No 61% 63% 59% 62% 61% 60%
Totals 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Weighted N (1,788) (1,012) (771) (1,117) (225) (289)

6
CBS News Poll – January 29-February 2, 2024
Adults in the U.S.

20. Ever Regretted a Romantic Relationship

Looking back, do you have any past romantic relationships that you wish you hadn’t been involved in?

Gender Age
Total Male Female Under 30 30-44 45-64 65+

Yes 60% 54% 66% 50% 63% 65% 58%

No 40% 46% 34% 50% 37% 35% 42%
Totals 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Weighted N (1,784) (872) (911) (367) (451) (585) (381)

In a Relationship Race
Total Yes No White Black Hispanic

Yes 60% 65% 53% 64% 55% 49%

No 40% 35% 47% 36% 45% 51%
Totals 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Weighted N (1,784) (1,010) (769) (1,114) (224) (288)

7
CBS News Poll – January 29-February 2, 2024
Adults in the U.S.

21. Greater Regret

Which do you regret more?
Among those who wish they had actively pursued an old crush and regret a past romantic relationship

Gender Age
Total Male Female Under 30 30-44 45-64 65+

Not pursuing an old crush 40% 48% 30% ∗ 31% 43% 53%
A past relationship you wish you hadn’t been involved in 60% 52% 70% ∗ 69% 57% 47%
Totals 100% 100% 100% ∗ 100% 100% 100%
Weighted N (469) (259) (210) (82) (120) (185) (83)

In a Relationship Race
Total Yes No White Black Hispanic

Not pursuing an old crush 40% 35% 45% 40% ∗ 41%

A past relationship you wish you hadn’t been involved in 60% 65% 55% 60% ∗ 59%
Totals 100% 100% 100% 100% ∗ 100%
Weighted N (469) (271) (198) (307) (57) (71)

8
 HOW THE POLL WAS CONDUCTED AND THE
MARGIN OF ERROR CALCULATED

The CBS News/YouGov survey of 1,791 adults in the U.S. was conducted between January
29-February 2, 2024.
This sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, and education based on the U.S. Census
American Community Survey, and the U.S. Census Current Population Survey, as well as 2020
Presidential vote and 2022 Congressional vote. Respondents were selected to be representative of
adults nationwide. The weights range from 0.1 to 6.6, with a mean of 1 and a standard deviation
of 0.9.
The margin of error (a 95% confidence interval) for a sample percentage p based upon the entire
sample is approximately ±3.1 pts. It is calculated using the formula
s
1 + CV2
p̂ ± 100 ×
n

where CV is the coefficient of variation of the sample weights and n is the sample size used
to compute the proportion. This is a measure of sampling error (the average of all estimates
obtained using the same sample selection and weighting procedures repeatedly). The sample
estimate should differ from its expected value by less than margin of error in 95 percent of
all samples. It does not reflect non-sampling errors, including potential selection bias in panel
participation or in response to a particular survey.