Singlehood Is Not Bad: Single People Live Better Lives Than Others, Science Suggests

If you're at an age where everyone you know are either getting married or having babies, and people ask you why you're still single, you may have the mother of all comebacks for them: it appears that science believe single people have richer, more meaningful lives. The study presented at the American Psychological Association's Annual Convention in Denver said that single people are more likely to experience more psychological growth and development than those who are married.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Bella DePaulo said in a press release, "The preoccupation with the perils of loneliness can obscure the profound benefits of solitude. It is time for a more accurate portrayal of single people and single life - one that recognizes the real strengths and resilience of people who are single, and what makes their lives so meaningful."

According to Huffington Post, DePaulo conducted a review of recent journal articles that examined the effects of marriage and singlehood on things like personal growth and happiness, and she found that there are nearly 20,000 studies related to marriage that have been published since 2000, but only about 500 on so about non-married people - many of which are stereotyping and stigmatizing.

Still, despite studies that showed how married people are doing well with their lives, she found that the stereotypes associated with being alone are usually wrong. "The stereotypes insist that single people are isolated and alone; in fact, they are more connected to other people than married people are, and when people get married, they get more insular," she shared."The stereotypes suggest that single people are self-centered pleasure seekers. But in fact, single people do more than their share of caring for other people."

So the next time someone asks you with pity why you're still alone in the world, just tell them that science thinks you're pretty rad - and you don't have to feel pressured about what society wants you to do.