SHANGHAI: About 90 percent of the bachelors responding to a recent survey said they had favorable opinions about traditional matchmaking services.

The survey by www.zhaopin.com, a Shanghai-based job listings website, polled more than 6,000 white-collar bachelors.

According to the results, released on Sunday, Bachelor's Day, 60 percent of the respondents said they were single because they believe fate determines the success of relationships.

This disposition makes them reluctant to take steps to find spouses.

"I used to believe that my Miss Right would be waiting for me and would appear at just the right time," a bachelor who asked not to be named said.

"But after several years of fruitless waiting, I realized I should do something for myself instead of just waiting for destiny to take control. I have since been to several matchmaking clubs. I'm hoping to shed my bachelor title as soon as possible."

Financial considerations have also held some singles back, the survey found. More than 20 percent said they were not economically qualified to get married. They said having a successful career is a precondition for starting a family.

Only 4.6 percent of the interviewed bachelors blamed work for their inability to find partners. They said they were too busy to date or maintain a relationship.

As different as the respondents' reasons were for why they were still single, most of them said they were eager to change the situation.

About 40 percent of the bachelors interviewed said they felt like having a relationship would be the start of the next phase of their lives.

The bachelors said single life is fraught with challenges. More than half of them said they felt depressed or upset when they encountered happy couples in public.

They also said not having anyone to confide in about life was a problem. Many said they face a lot of pressure from their parents.

(China Daily 11/13/2007 page5)