CHICAGO—Credit the recession for staycations and bringing us more game-night parties at home. But also give it a shout for spurring more first dates.

Economic woes, it seems, unleash something practically primal in many of us who find ourselves without a partner: a hard-wired desire for companionship.

Some singles are now hunting for dates with the same fervor others are showing hunting for jobs. On matchmaking Web site eHarmony.com, membership is up 20 percent despite monthly fees of up to $60, and activity has soared 50 percent since September at OkCupid.com.

It’s not just the frequency of our dates that’s changing—it’s also the people we’re choosing to spend time with.

“They’re looking for something that’s genuine in a world that isn’t very secure,” said Bathsheba Birman, co-founder of the Chicago dating event Nerds at Heart. “With headlines full of why you can’t trust established institutions that you thought you could ... people are re-examining their own values.”

Attendance at the monthly gatherings, where mostly young professionals pay $25 for a drink and a chance to spend the evening clustered around trivia and board games—was more than double expectations in April and has stayed high since.

“Misery loves company, especially if the prospect of romance and or sex looms large,” said Craig Kinsley, a neurologist at the University of Richmond. “Really, dating, rather than being considered as expensive, can be a thrilling and inexpensive distraction. Like getting drunk without the wallet-hit or hangover.”

Kinsley said stomach-fluttering first dates also release brain chemicals that can temporarily erase worries, even about 401(k)s and layoffs and falling portfolios and upside-down mortgages.

Still, Sam Yagan, the founder and CEO at OkCupid.com, sees the changing dating climate as a matter of dollars and cents.

The way he figures it, a man can spend $100 buying drinks at a bar trying to pick up a stranger and leave with little more than a cold shoulder. But, when he’s in a relationship, a Saturday evening can be as simple as Thai noodle takeout, Netflix and some fun under the covers. All in all, Yagan said, that’s “more bang for your buck.”

It’s more than just the recession. Experts say changes in behavior can relate to other world events—with upticks when news is bad.

Last fall, comparing periods when the stock market fell more than 100 points and when it rose by the same amount, eHarmony found more members searched for matches when the financial news was grim. Activity also grew in the days after a tragedy like the Virginia Tech shooting, while it stayed the same during “good” global events, like the Olympics.

Unlike those one-day or weeklong events, the recession already has spanned more than 18 months, and its effects are expected to last just as long—and that likely will mean more discernible changes in human behavior.

“It ends up being a reminder that you need to look for the important things in life,” said Gian Gonzaga, eHarmony’s senior research scientist.

But the trend isn’t uniform.

Recessions can make some romances more challenging, experts say, especially for those who’ve already said “I do.” The stress that comes with fear, financial problems and economic uncertainty can drive a wedge between partners.

And the most committed bachelors aren’t developing a sudden hankering to buy princess-cut engagement rings.

Instead, the shifts are subtle: a devoted singleton going on more first dates; casual daters seeking long-term relationships; partners who might not have been attractive a while back—someone younger or older, someone who lives in a “geographically undesirable” area—looking much better.

At the Chicago wine bar In Fine Spirits, the changing dating culture has lead to a roughly 30 percent increase in the number of parties of two, said general manager Brandon Wise.

“With such a tenuous climate right now, I think people are looking for stability in their partner,” he said. “I think it’s less haphazard dating and more pointed dating.”



Don’t Break the Bank

A date doesn’t need to break the bank, especially as potential partners are increasingly likely to value substance over style during the recession.

These tips will help you whittle the costs of wooing.

1. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Does your date dig dive bars? Or a neighborhood taqueria? Sometimes finding a hole-in-the-wall place will save you money and could earn you brownie points. Just be careful: Suggesting drinks someplace that only serves Natural Light isn’t going to be a home run with everyone.

2. GET CULTURAL. Museums, aquariums, zoos and planetariums are guaranteed to provide entertainment, education and—best of all—conversation starters so they’re usually worth the low price of admission. If that’s still too much, go on their free or reduced-price days. Another option: museums’ adults-only events, such as Nightlife, held weekly after hours at San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences, where $10 gets you access to exhibits and live music. Patronize the bars stationed throughout the nature museum and you can drink with the fishes.

3. CHECK THE CALENDAR. With summer comes an abundance of free—or cheap—outdoor activities. Check with your community’s parks department for festivals, free concerts, theater in the park, outdoor movie nights, even dance lessons. Your local library or university event calendar will offer lectures, book readings and film screenings. And few events offer more free cachet than an opening at an offbeat art gallery.

4. MAKE IT YOURSELF. Pack a picnic—roasting a chicken just ahead of time provides an easy treat—and head to a local botanical garden, nature preserve, beach or park. Or follow up with a bike ride, hike or easy stroll to burn off the calories.

5. BROWN BAG IT. Check ahead whether your dining spot will let you bring along your favorite wine or a six-pack. Even with a corkage fee, bringing your own drinks will cost less than ordering from the menu at most restaurants, where a glass of wine typically costs as much as you would pay for the whole bottle at a store.