A new study has found that unmarried people live more fulfilled lives, stay in contact with friends and are more self reliant than their married peers, a psychologist has found after reviewing hundreds of studies. Dr Bella DePaulo from the University of California, claims that the traditional view of singles being “sad and lonely” is nonsense and that people on their own often live more meaningful lives.
Speaking at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Society, Dr DePaulo said there was a relentless celebration of marriage and couples in popular culture, which she has labeled as “matrimania”, while singles face discrimination and being stereotyped. Despite this, after reviewing 841 studies, Dr DePaulo found single people tend to be happier in their jobs, more likely to stay in touch with friends and family, more self-reliant and less inclined to negativity.
She also found singles to more more connected with their parents, siblings, friends, neighbours and colleagues than married people, and when people marry they become more insular. The general view that people will more happy when married as they benefit from the emotional and psychological aspects of marriage like intimacy, caring and companionship. Yet the fail to consider the financial benefits and protections offered to couples.
Comparative research among people who stayed single to those who stayed married show the singles have an enhanced sense of self-determination and are more likely to experience continued growth and development as a person. However Dr DePaulo warns that the obsession with the insecurity of loneliness often hides the benefits of solitude and and can make singles unhappy.