Being Single May Support Personal Growth, Study Finds
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Being single is often viewed as a temporary stage before finding a romantic partner, but new Canadian research suggests it can offer something valuable of its own: an opportunity for personal growth, new experiences and greater satisfaction with life.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University conducted three studies involving around 600 participants between the ages of 17 and 76 from Canada and the United States. They examined what researchers describe as the “self-expansion potential” of singlehood — the extent to which people believe being single gives them opportunities to develop, learn and experience new things.
The findings showed that people who viewed singlehood as an opportunity for growth were more likely to pursue new activities, including sports, travel, dining out, social experiences, career goals and other unfamiliar experiences.
That mindset was also associated with greater satisfaction with being single and with life overall, as well as less fear of remaining without a romantic partner. Participants who saw greater potential for growth also reported stronger feelings of autonomy, competence and connection with others.
The researchers found that personal growth during singlehood did not necessarily mean spending more time alone. About half of the self-expanding activities reported by participants were done with friends, while 22% involved family members. Activities undertaken alone accounted for about 18%.
Researchers stressed, however, that the findings do not mean single people are necessarily happier than those in romantic relationships. Instead, the study suggests that how people perceive and use their time while single can influence their experience of it.
People who considered romantic relationships essential to happiness, had lower self-esteem or were single involuntarily were less likely to see singlehood as an opportunity for personal development.
The researchers also tested whether encouraging people to imagine new activities they could pursue while single could influence their experience. Participants reported more positive feelings and a greater sense of self-expansion, although the exercise alone was not enough to fundamentally change their attitudes toward singlehood.
The findings come as growing numbers of people spend longer periods outside committed romantic relationships or enter them later in life, prompting researchers to examine singlehood as a distinct stage of life rather than simply a period of waiting for the next relationship.
