But this traditional stereotype may need to be re-written as a study has found that many people are happier going it alone.
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There was a time when it was considered as a mandate to be in a relationship, as it was being said that people who are in relationship are happier than those who are single.
Life satisfaction was then mapped against a scale measuring what psychology researchers call “avoidance” and “approach” behaviours.
‘It’s a well-documented finding that single people tend to be less happy compared to those in a relationship, but that may not be true for everyone, ‘ said lead researcher Yuthika Girme, a psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Auckland.
Results revealed that participants who experienced the most happiness have “high avoidance goals” in relationships.
Trying too hard to avoid relationship conflicts actually may create more problems, according to Girme.
She concluded that it can make people happier when they are single, but can contribute to anxiety, loneliness and an unhealthy focus on negative memories for those romantically attached. Twenty percent of the participants are admitted to be single with long-term relationships lasting nearly 22 years on average.
People with the highest scores on the “approach” scale – wanting to enhance growth and intimacy in relationships – were happiest when in a relationship.
“Being single has traditionally been associated with poorer life satisfaction but this research shows that is not the case for people who try to sustain close relationships by avoiding turmoil or conflict”. A separate survey was conducted involving 187 University of Auckland students.
If you think being single will bring sadness in your life one day, you are probably wrong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently unveiled data showing that with more than 128 million singles representing 51 percent of the American population being along is the new norm in the U.S. That is due to factors such as divorce rates, single parenting, and prioritizing of careers over marriage.
“Having greater approach goals tends to have the best outcomes for people when they are in a relationship, but they also experience the most hurt and pain when they are single”, Girme said. But they were not unhappy when single, substituting closeness with family and friends for romantic ties.
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Girme questioned over 4000 subjects with “high avoidance social goals” in New Zealand. Social Psychological and Personality Science.
