Scientists Identify a Mindset Linked to Happier Singlehood

Single adults who treat their relationship status as a chance for personal growth tend to feel happier, more fulfilled, and less anxious about remaining single. New research published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin finds that viewing singlehood as an opportunity to pursue novel activities is closely tied to better day-to-day well-being.

The study, titled “Riding Solo: The Associations Between Singlehood Self-Expansion Potential, Self-Expansion Experiences, and Singlehood Outcomes,” was conducted by Elina Moreno, Yuthika U. Girme, Anastasiia Burik, and Sarah C. E. Stanton. The findings add to a growing body of research challenging the idea that romantic partnership is the only path to a fulfilling life.

The work builds on self-expansion theory, which holds that people have a basic drive to grow by gaining new skills, perspectives, and identities. While earlier studies focused mainly on romantic couples as a path to self-expansion, the new findings suggest that singlehood can also be a powerful context for psychological growth.

How the studies were designed

In the first study, researchers followed 130 single university students in Canada over 14 days. Participants first reported how strongly they believed that being single could help them grow, a mindset the team called singlehood self-expansion potential.

Each day, students then logged their life satisfaction, fear of being single, and how well their basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and connection were met. A smaller group of 58 students also noted whether they had taken part in any new or exciting activities that day.

Those who believed singlehood offered strong growth potential reported engaging in more novel activities, such as trying new hobbies or exploring new places. On the same days, they also tended to feel more satisfied with life, more psychologically fulfilled, and less worried about remaining single.

Short-term boosts and lasting mindsets

The daily diary data suggested that the emotional benefits of trying something new were largely immediate. The specific activities did not reliably predict how people felt the next day, indicating that the lift in mood and satisfaction peaked in the moment.

However, the overall belief that singlehood could support personal growth showed a more lasting association. After accounting for people’s emotions on previous days, those with stronger growth beliefs experienced lower fear of being single and higher life satisfaction on the following day.

In a second study, the team extended the observation window to six weeks with a fresh sample of 146 single university students. The pattern repeated: optimism about singlehood’s growth potential was linked to more self-expanding experiences each week and better overall well-being.

What single people actually do to grow

Written descriptions from participants revealed how single adults pursued self-expansion in their everyday lives. Physical exercise and sports were the most common growth activities, accounting for about 20 percent of responses, followed closely by socializing and attending large events or celebrations.

Most of these activities, around 83 percent, were done with other people, usually friends or family. This suggests that, even without a romantic partner, single adults often rely on non-romantic relationships as a key context for growth.

At the same time, nearly one in five self-expanding experiences were undertaken alone. The researchers say this shows that singlehood can foster personal development both through social connections and through solo exploration.

Can mindset be changed?

A third study tested whether simply imagining a more adventurous single life could shift people’s views. Researchers recruited 324 single adults online, with an average age of 38, and asked them to write about their future as a single person.

One group described routine, predictable activities, while the other focused on novel, spontaneous plans, such as trips, new hobbies, or unusual social events. Afterward, participants reported their current mood, belief in singlehood’s growth potential, and satisfaction.

The brief exercise did not significantly change people’s deeper belief that singlehood fosters growth, suggesting that this mindset may be relatively stable. Still, those who imagined novel activities reported a modest increase in positive mood and a stronger feeling that they were engaging in self-expanding experiences, at least in the short term.

Implications and limits of the findings

The research indicates that simply being single is not inherently harmful to psychological health and may even offer unique avenues for growth. People who see their single status as a platform to try new things, meet new people, and build skills appear more satisfied with life and less fearful about remaining unpartnered.

At the same time, the authors caution that their data are correlational, meaning they cannot prove that the growth mindset causes better well-being. It is possible that people who already feel secure and content are more likely to view singlehood in a positive light.

Exploratory analyses suggested that those with low self-esteem or a strong longing for a committed relationship were less inclined to see singlehood as an opportunity. Shifting this outlook may require more intensive interventions than a short writing task or simple reframing exercises.

Future directions for singlehood research

The first two studies focused on college students, who live in environments rich in novelty, learning, and social contact. Researchers note that older adults or those navigating caregiving, work pressures, or other life stages may experience very different opportunities for self-expansion.

Future work will look at how single people across age groups and cultures navigate their status, and which types of activities or social contexts offer the most benefit. The team also plans to examine how societal expectations around relationships shape single adults’ well-being.

Overall, the findings suggest that the experience of being single may depend partly on what people believe that period of life can offer them. Seeing it as a time for exploration, new experiences, stronger social connections, and personal development may be associated with a more satisfying experience of singlehood.

Article prepared by Victoria Caldwell.