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The study had also discovered that people who are single are happy in spite of the society’s expectation according to which single people are unfulfilled.
According to a study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science for the first time in the history of the United States the number of single people is larger than the number of people who form a couple.
51 percent of the US adults are single and scientists speculate that the number will increase as divorce rates are reaching historic highs and marriage is on decline. In addition the study had also discovered that people who are single are happy in spite of the society’s expectation according to which single people are unfulfilled.
According to the study single people can be just as happy as people who are in a relationship. It all depends on how they perceive relationships in general. If an individual would rather avoid drama and conflict when it comes to relationships then on average he or she will see single life just as satisfying as sharing their life with somebody else. On the other hand people who are not affected by ups and downs in relationships are not as happy when they are single.
The authors of the study explained:
During relationship initiation and maintenance, those who fear being single may prioritize relationship status above relationship quality, settling for less responsive and less attractive partners and remaining in relationships that are less satisfying.”
The study was based on data about 4.000 New Zealanders who had to undergo a survey. The participants had ages between 18 and 94. One fifth of the participants in the research said that they were single. Those involved in long-term relationships lasted 22 years on average.
James Maddux from the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va was not involved in the study, but commented on it saying that it shows the fact that there are many ways to reach happiness and one size cannot fit all.
Professor of psychology Patrick Markey from Villanova University in Villanova deals with relationships issues. According to him men might especially benefit from being in a relationship as studies show, but he agrees that to some people romance is not so important. In fact he believes that genes might have a say in this: if a person is satisfied with his or her statues it will be like this later in life as well. Relationships won’t change our baseline, but change how we feel only temporary.
Image Source: keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk
