5 reasons being single is good for your wellbeing

Singles Awareness Day celebrates and recognises the benefits of being solo. It turns out, if you’re not partnered up you can enjoy a boost in health and wellbeing.

While increasing numbers of Australians are ticking the “single” box to define their relationship status, a 2021 study has found there is still a strong social bias towards being part of a couple.

The study’s co-author, Associate Professor Samantha Joel from the Social, Personality and Developmental Psychology Cluster at Canada’s Western University, says there is a lot of societal pressure to be in a relationship.

“There’s a lot of good research on how singlehood is stigmatised,” Assoc Prof Joel says.

“There are social benefits (to being a couple), too, regardless of who your partner is.

“Culturally, being coupled means being seen as a legitimate social unit.”

Social psychologist and researcher Bella DePaulo agrees.

“Sadly, that belief is still part of the conventional wisdom in many places,” says Bella, who wrote Singled Out: How Singles Are Stereotyped, Stigmatized and Ignored and Still Live Happily Ever After.

“People think that being coupled is the natural, normal and superior way to be, but we should be wiser in our thinking by now,” Bella says.

“Beliefs about the supposed superiority of couples miss the many ways that single people are doing better.”

Being single can deliver a wealth of health and wellbeing benefits, including:

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You’ll probably do more exercise

Research shows that married adults spend less time exercising than unmarried adults.

In fact, a UK survey found that while 67 per cent of single women met recommended activity guidelines, only 37 per cent of married women did.

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You’ll be more connected to others

“Single people are typically more connected to the people in their lives that they care about, than couples are,” Bella says.

Having strong social ties has been linked to everything from a lower risk of dementia through to improved blood pressure.

You’re more likely to volunteer

The results of a 2020 study show volunteering for as little as two hours a week improved life expectancy, lowered the risk of depression and gave people a greater sense of purpose.

Loneliness might pack less of a punch

It is a feeling that has been linked to experiencing poorer mental and physical health, but Bella says many singles are less at risk.

“People who are what I call ‘single at heart’ so that they love being single and embrace their single lives, aren’t scared of spending time alone,” Bella says.

“They cherish solitude and that protects them from feelings of loneliness, which they rarely experience.”

Your weight might be healthier

Research shows married people tend to have higher body mass indexes.   

Health perks across the ages

Worried that single people may do well while they are young, but the opposite occurs with advancing age? Bella says it is not the case.

“There’s a terrific study of more than 10,000 Australian women, all in their seventies,” Bella says.

“The study compared the women who stayed single and had no kids, to women who were currently or previously married with or without kids.

“The researchers found the lifelong single women did better than everyone else in several ways.

“For example, they were more optimistic and less stressed, they were healthier and they had larger social networks.”

Written by Karen Fittall.