Are single women happier than single men?

Cultural stereotypes have long suggested that women are more likely to seek romantic relationships, get married, and start families. This line of thinking implies that for women, being alone may be experienced as more problematic than for men.

In contrast, men are often described as more content with single life, finding fulfillment in work, hobbies, and personal independence.

But how much do these stereotypes match reality?

A study recently published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science by psychologists Elaine Hoan and Geoff MacDonald of the University of Toronto challenges traditional beliefs about gender roles and relationships. The study, titled “Sisters Are Doing It Their Own Way: Gender Differences in Singles’ Well-Being,” analyzed data from more than 6,000 single individuals over the age of 18 (average age: 32) who participated in 10 different studies.

The study results showed that single women reported higher levels of well-being compared to single men. They were more satisfied with their single status, felt less of a pressing need for a romantic partner, and experienced more sexual satisfaction.

Compared to men, single women showed a stronger link to personal life satisfaction and were more likely to enjoy their independence. Even when in romantic relationships, women reported greater satisfaction than men in their relationships, particularly in sexual and emotional terms – but not necessarily in personal life satisfaction.

Why might women be happier being single?

According to the authors, this gender divide in the experience of singleness can be explained for several reasons:

Richer social relationships: Women are more likely to cultivate deep emotional connections with friends and have a supportive social network even outside of a romantic relationship.

Less satisfying experience in heterosexual relationships: Women often take on the brunt of housework and caregiving duties in relationships, which can negatively impact their experience within the relationship.

Self-sufficiency and independence: For many women, especially those who have previously experienced marriage or cohabitation, singleness brings a sense of liberation and greater control over their personal lives.

As author Paula De Polo notes in an analysis for Psychology Today, “many previously married women feel relief after a breakup, no longer feeling the pressure to consistently give more than they receive.”

What about men? Are they less able to cope with being single?

Although the average findings show that single men report less satisfaction, it is not excluded that many men do well in the single life. Some of them value personal freedom, engage in professional development, cultivate hobbies, and maintain healthy social connections. They do not necessarily depend on a partner for emotional or social stability.

However, the authors note that the social and psychological risks for single men are higher, especially for those who have not developed self-management skills in everyday life or who do not have strong social networks.

cONcluSiON

This latest study contributes to a more balanced and evidence-based understanding of single life for both genders. The stereotype that women are more desperate for relationships and men are more content alone is not clearly supported by scientific data. In fact, it is exactly the opposite: women, on average, feel better when they are single, enjoy their independence, and feel fulfilled even without a romantic relationship.

This discovery invites a review of traditional perceptions of love, marriage, and the need for partnership, paving the way for a more nuanced understanding of human well-being beyond marital status.