Question

People who are single are happier because they are living their most authentic lives without having to worry about someone else.

Comments

I'm a bit skeptical about this and disagree. Yes, people who are single may be living more "authentic", because people are only focusing on themselves, but studies indicate that "people in romantic relationships enjoy greater well-being than singles: They tend to be happier and report higher levels of life satisfaction" (https://time.com/6255111/single-people-happy-healthy/). I also believe that just in general having a significant other/partner who you are in a relationship with can help with your overall mood and mental health, knowing you have someone by your side.

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I believe that this article doesn't give enough reasonable evidence to support the fact that single people are truly happier. While the author is credible, the article only focuses on people who are single. By doing this, readers can't get the perspective of somebody in a relationship. This creates bias in the article as we can't get both points of view. This claim is also more of a personal claim, as some single people can be happy, as well as people in relationships.

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The use of buzzfeed for data isn't the most reliable, but the quizzes speak true to me the majority of the time so I could understand the stance taken by buzzfeed. The bias of the article is what speaks loudest. Without the perspective of those who are happier in relationships, the audience can only know what the authors experience consists of.

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I believe that this article provides useful information for people including myself who are interested in this topic, but it is not entirely true. I have read BuzzFeed before and believe that there are more informative and credible article sources out there. In order for this article to be credible and viewed highly, it has to focus on the experiment between single people versus people in relationships. It only focuses on the happiness of single people which is biased towards people's understandings. The author of this article needs to provide both perspectives of both sides of the argument in order to be fully credible on this topic. Overall, this article is useful for single people but does not demonstrate the differences of being in a relationship.

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I understand the claim that you are making, however, I definitely disagree. As somebody who is in a relationship right now and has been for the past year and a half I can say that I am equally as happy as when I was single if not more. The only reason I don't confidently say I am more happy is because my relationship is long distance which in my opinion is much harder than I I were to live in a close proximity to my girlfriend. I think that it also depends on the type of person that someone is, but in my experience I am happier being in a relationship with somebody whom I care very deeply for and know she feels the same towards me. It brings me more confidence in myself as a person as well as comfort knowing that I always have somebody who I can go to about anything. Being single I found myself always wishing I had somebody like that in my life which made me (others may feel differently) less happy than I am now.

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Despite some studies show that single people can find happiness this doesn't mean that people in relationships can not. This article focuses only in the one prospective without explaining why people in a relationship are not happy or are not happier than singles.

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I am skeptical of this claim because happiness has levels and is an emotion that changes constantly. You could be single and happy and single and sad. You can also be in a relationship thats great and be very happy, or be in an abusive relationship that makes you very unhappy. How are you measuring happiness on a scale that is equal to everyone?

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Although I understand what you are saying, I find this title to only be applicable to a very small portion of the population. The vast majority of humans will be the happiest when they have successfully completed the one task that we are put on earth to complete, to reproduce. I find this kind of article to be written more as clickbait used to inflate traffic numbers and therefore get higher rates from advertisers instead of an actual article written to inform people.

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This is a very big claim and there really isn't any good evidence supporting this claim. There are multiple studies that disagree with this because single people often are the most lonely. Typically, as single people get older they also tend to get more lonely.

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This claim seems a bit ambiguous for it to be proven correct. There is a lack of evidence in this article along with the fact that many other articles and news sources disagree with this claim. Because this is an opinion more so than a "fact" I think I would be wise to consider more than one source when trying to defend this claim.

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Personally I have seen evidence of single people living great lives and experiencing all they can in life but I feel as though there is a pretty good mix of people being equally as happy, single or taken. In watching family couples they are some of the happiest people I know and love being married, while I also see the wild and fun loving single aunt living her best life too. I also just do not think this article holds enough evidence to prove this 100% fact with its sole focus being studies on just single people!

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This is quite a questionable claim. There isn't exactly a feasible way to collect data about this claim or factually prove the claim. My best guess would be to compare serotonin and dopamine levels between people in and out of relationships. However, other factors affect those chemicals, so it wouldn't be definitive. Additionally, Buzzfeed isn't a media outlet praised for credibility, rather it's infamous for "clickbait" titles and pop culture quizzes.

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I do agree with the argument being made, as there are many strong points about single individuals have more time and freedom to pursue their best lives. That being said there was not a strong piece of evidence that made this claim completely valid for me. The claim that people are happier when single can me argued but I think in this case it was a generalization and can not be applicable to the majority. A majority of people marry at some point and see it as their ultimate goal in life, therefore I do not think people are always at their happiest when single.

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Although this has become a society norm in some standards, being in a healthy relationship mainly boosts ones happiness. There are many different perspectives under this topic, and making such a broad and fact-like claim only hurts people's perceptions of relationships. It takes a lot of factors to determine someone a happy person, way more than whether they are in a relationship or not. Because of this any claim under this is more of an opinion without any data to back it up.

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This article offers useful insights, but it lacks balance by focusing only on the happiness of single people. To be fully credible, it should compare the experiences of both single people and those in relationships. Without this, the article feels biased and incomplete

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I agree with this point! Although this author did a great job presenting her audience with factual evidence, I still don't fully think there is a true way to prove her point completely. I love that you used a personal story to back yourself up, which is a great way to evaluate a claim like this one!

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The way you evaluated the source of this article was great! it is so important to make sure to check the source of your information to not fall for fake news or misinformation. I agree that BuzzFeed News is typically not a very reliable source, and there are better places to find credible information!

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Well, I believe that single people can be happier, I think what you are missing when creating a claim like this (even with evidence) you aren't looking at the happiness of people in healthy relationships and the aspects that are making them, "happier" maybe just in a different form. While I liked that you had a source to back your claim up... I was kind of hoping for more within the explanation.

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This although true to many is not a factual claim but instead a varying opinion. Single or In a relationship an authentic life can be lived. The claim of worrying about others can be true but it is not directly connected to being in a relationship. People can feel worry for anyone significant other or not. Many people find significant happiness within relationships as well. This claim lacks a lot of substantial facts. The article is not able to demonstrate a population statistic that covers everyone in relationships and or single. This statement is more a personal opinion that Varys based on person than a logical claim.

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This is both true and false in a lot of ways, and incredibly objective because a single person and one who is in a committed, happy relationship, can both say they're happier. Personally, I think somebody who is single can be happy with themselves, secured and confident, THRIVING doing whatever they're doing, alone. Somebody who has a partner may say that by being with their partner/ in a relationship, they're happy to find their companion, somebody who makes them happier than they were before, and etc. This is completed based on their experiences and how they perceived themselves in and out of a relationship. Buzzfeed News is a very objective and unserious source to use as well. Although this article: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/08/20/nearly-half-of-u-s-adults-say-dating-has-gotten-harder-for-most-people-in-the-last-10-years/
have a few data evidence, most of these just proved that our dating world have changed.

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Reading this article did resonate with me personally due to my opinionated belief in that I am less consumed and essentially "happier" that I am single. However, there is no definite way to confirm that this theory is fully truthful. The idea that single life generates happiness is objective and based on personal experiences. Although it is typical or common for relationships in this day to be 'toxic' or 'unhealthy' there are some that aren't that way. The article did state facts that support the said claim. Including statistics such as the "40% of adults between ages 25 and 54" are un partnered. This data does help prove the point credible however there are too many variables to claim this as a fact.

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I'm a bit skeptical of this claim, as I feel like it is something that is more of a personal opinion than a research-fueled claim. While some may be happier single, I know others that thrive more in relationships, as they need the connection and closeness a relationship provides. I do not think that there will ever be a solid way to "prove" that single people are happier than those in relationships, and vice versa. While the article did provide evidence that supports the claim that single people are happier, such as "40% of adults between ages 25 and 54 were unpartnered... up from 29% in 1990." I feel that there are far too many variables to be able to soundly state that, yes, single people are in fact happier. Especially, as I stated earlier, every person functions differently and is fulfilled by differing things in life; therefore, while some may feel more free when single, others are at their happiest when they are in a relationship. Relationships also fall on a spectrum, one's happiness being single may be a result of the level of unhealthiness in their last relationship, those who are happy in a relationship may be in a very healthy relationship. All-in-all, this claim is simply too broad, and has far too many factors and moving parts for it to ever be proved as true or false.

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I think that this claim is more opinion based and you can't really fact-check it. happiness levels vary depending on personal preferences, relationship quality, and individual circumstances. Some single people may be happier due to greater autonomy, while others may find fulfillment in a loving partnership.

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This claim is far too subjective and opinion based. There is no true way to solidly prove that being single results in higher levels of happiness. One could very easily make the opposite claim and have plenty of people in relationships say that they are happier than they would be if they were single. The claim is far too broad and reliant on too many variables.

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I agree, I think that you worded this comment very well. I like the part where you said that it varies on the person because I also thought that this claim was very general and not true to many people.

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I think your claim is more of an opinionated belief. It's hard to use facts to judge if a personal preference is better than another preference. Although, I do think it's an interesting point, you live your most authentic life single I think it's all based on personal preference and human lifestyle.

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I agree with this fact check. This claim is totally opinion based. It can't be answered by a study. Some people may be happier single whereas some might thrive and be their happiest in a relationship. I appreciate how you mention the statistics found in the given BuzzFeed article and then immediately follow up with all the variables that could have an influence.

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I don't think that you can truly fact-check this. This is a completely opinion-based article. Buzzfeed is not a real source, and I don't think that you can realistically tell someone that they would be happier if they were not in a committed relationship. A good source for a claim like this would be a research center or scholar.

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This claim can neither be true nor false due to the fact that it is based on opinions. This topic is subjective therefore cannot have a right or wrong answer to. The article mentioned elaborates on the data surrounding the differences of dating today in comparison to in the past. However, the claim is not in relation to the data presented by the article.

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While i think your statement is true on some levels, I think this is more of an opinionated statement. While some people prefer to be alone, some people find that they're more fulfilled with a romantic partner in their lives. To make the statement that all single people are happier is too vague to state as truth.

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Just like other people mentioned above, this claim is all opinion-based. Some single people may be happier, and others may not be it really just depends on the person. There isn't any information that can back up this claim since it is all opinion based.

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I think that you could've used more sources and cited more evidence as to why you took the position you did. I would have been interested to see a survey of what people would respond if they are happier single. I also think that using buzzfeed as a source is a is a little bit unreliable because they post every thing and aren't very trustworthy. When I did some research I didn't find many reliable studies taken, the only one was about married couples and that is slightly different than the question asked. Overall, I think more could've been added to this claim to support it.

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2003/03/married-happy

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You make some valid points! Citing more reliable sources would definitely strengthen the argument. A survey on single individuals' happiness could provide valuable insights, too. And I agree that relying on BuzzFeed might not give the most trustworthy information, especially when it comes to serious topics like relationships. It’s crucial to look for solid studies that directly address the question at hand, like the one from the APA you shared, to build a more compelling case.

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This is an opinionated statement, so this is tough to gauge. I think there are valid points here, but your source doesn't really help you out much. I think if you found some type of scientific study regarding this same topic then your above statement may hold a bit more weight.

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I can agree with your claim on a general level, but I think this claim is too broad! Some people might feel more authentic to themselves being single, while others might feel sad and lonely without a partner. I think yuo could add some evidence to expand on this claim and strengthen it.

Answer 1

The article explains that being single nowadays leads to greater happiness and overall enjoyment in mundane activities. The claim that "single people are happier" is subjective and can be taken from person to person. The article links data explaining the difficulties of dating and the overall rise of single people. Although, yes, dating is different from how it used to be with online dating apps and new social norms, these articles don't support the claim. The data they provide is about divorce rates which isn't enough to back up their article. I believe that this claim is too subjective and they don't provide the correct data to support their claim.

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/08/20/nearly-half-of-u-s-adults-say-dating-has-gotten-harder-for-most-people-in-the-last-10-years/

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407515597564

Comments

I agree with your analysis of the description of happiness as being alone in mundane activities rather than with a partner also subjective. The claim itself leans heavily on causation and doesn't take into account the happiness they may of had with there partner as that would be the obvious comparison that it is not compared too.

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I completely agree with you. Being in a relationship is opinionated. I do feel that sometimes it’s hard to find your person. In that case it’s an objective.

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I agree that happiness really varies from person to person. The article talks about the increase in single people and the challenges of dating, however it mostly uses divorce rates, which doesn't directly prove that being single equals more happiness. For a better more accurate view, studies from the Pew Research Center mixed results of this study. Some report single people enjoy more freedom, while others say that married people often report being happier. I think that if the article had better concrete sources it would be a more credible claim.

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I agree with your stance I think it was taken more as an opinion and it really varies person to person. I also agree it is important to consider the causation vs correlation of this issue and the fact that human connection raises happiness.

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I agree that happiness is subjective and varies widely. The article's claim that being alone leads to greater happiness overlooks the potential joy people find in partnerships. It primarily relies on divorce rates, which only show an increase in people opting out of marriage, not necessarily greater happiness among singles. Since the podcast was also single for so long with different views on romance it feels as though he picked and chose info to support his claim and bias. For a more persuasive argument, it should include research directly comparing the happiness of single and coupled individuals over time.

Answer 2

I think this article focuses too much on why single people are happy but doesn't really give any information to compare to the happiness of people in a relationship. Additionally, may be too subjective to make a claim.

Comments

I agree, there has not been thoruogh studies on whether or not single people are happier on average. The only study I could found that relate to this claims the oppisite, with CNN reporting that married people are happier on average (https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/09/health/marriage-happiness-wellness/index.html#:~:text=Over%20the%20survey%20period%2C%20married,year%2C%20according%20to%20the%20data.) however happiness is subjective and diffcult to define. Therefore I agree with your comment, this is more of an opinion then a real verifiable claim.

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I agree with you I think its subjective to make a claim who is happier or not. Someones happiness is something that can change in an instant. A couple can be happy and then the next day it can all fall apart and they can be unhappy same goes with a single person. Allthough I believe that you are probably happier with a partner I still believe that it is hard to judge making me agree with your claim that its hard to actually find the correct answer.

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I agree with you on the fact that the claim is subjective. Different people have different relationships, and it's not reasonable to make one whole claim off of so many different experiences. This claim is difficult to have one direct answer to.

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I agree because it can all depend on who is being studied. There are different positions someone can be in and how that relationship is going. Single people, while they have a lot of time to focus on themselves, can be miserable without a partner and wish they had someone like that in their life.

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I totally agree that this claim is incredibly subjective, and there are far too many moving parts to make a definitive claim on the matter. People not in relationships indeed have more time on their hands, which could be spent bettering themselves and their lives. However not all people are the same, and what's good for one person doesn't mean it's a universal truth.

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I love that we are both here for an assignment lol I hope you get a good score! Also good luck on the quiz if you haven't done it yet

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I agree to be able to find who is happier they would have to directly compare single people and coupled people, which would still not give a definitive answer as there are variables that need to be accounted for.

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I like your answer to this claim because you point out the flaw of this fact being an opinion. It would have been helpful to hear an argument that states that people in relationships are happier.

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I agree I think there is too many outside factors and no real evidence to support the claim. We can't base true or false on something without enough evidence.

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I like how you mentioned that there is truth to their claim about people who are single being happy but also mentioned that there is no real evidence saying that people who are in relationships are unhappy.

Answer 3

The relationship between happiness and relationship status is influenced by too many factors to be 100% true or false. Some people thrive in relationships, while others feel more fulfilled on their own.

Comments

I agree with you, there are too many personal factors in relationships and happiness. This makes it way too difficult to make a claim for the entire population about happiness based off of relationship status.

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This is very true because the article is very opinionated based so one person's experience won't be the next person's. It can all vary on what was going on between them vs. when they were/are single. As humans whether we like to admit it or not, we need that romantic aspect in our lives. In one shape or another.

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I think this is true because one's relationship status cannot determine happiness. It all depends on your own personal experience with a partner and there are so many different factors that go into it for each person.

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Though I agree with your point, your claim would be made much more reliable if you could find some sort of source to confirm your stance. Even a quote from a relationship therapist (of some sort) supporting your opinion would be sufficient. And, if you found evidence against your claim, then, perhaps, your perspective on this topic might change in light of a different scholarly outlook. In short, though I agree with your statement (at first glance), your factcheck is simply an opinion and requires some sort of evidence to establish any sort of credibility.

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I agree with what you are saying, this a difficult one to fact check as it all goes with personal expierence, I think it could be helpful to find someway to back up your claim or you are also just stating your own opinion online with no sources.

Answer 4

This article addresses a subject that is hard to prove statistically and one that varies greatly from person to person. The main claim of the article though, is that people CAN be happier when single, but there isn't necessarily a cause and effect relationship between the two. 

This article originates from Buzzfeed, which is a source that thrives off of sensational headlines and opinions. Often times while they can be interesting, Buzzfeed isn't a great source for trustworthy reporting. Focusing on specifically the author, she has written a book as well as hosted a podcast. She has experience with the topic as she has been single for a long time. This can be both good and bad for validity as she has firsthand experience with the topic and can speak from that experience, but it also leads to a lot of bias on the topic and possible exaggeration or withholding of information on the topic. 

I was looking at other articles covering the same topic, and came across this one. The article is slightly different, as it focuses on the reverse claim, that single people are less happy than people in a relationship. The article sources research data showing that people who are single are unhappier. But the article also focuses on a more important claim: "those who dismissed relationships as unimportant were more satisfied with their lives than single young adults who were less dismissive of romantic relationships."

The ultimate point of this article is that the happiness of people based on relationship isn't necessarily a result of being in a relationship, but more the mindset and views of people regarding desire for a relationship. Ultimately, this is a really cloudy topic with no definite answer based purely on the happiness of anybody who is single. The true determining factor of relationship based happiness is more what you make of being in a relationship rather than whether or not you are in one. 

Comments

This article touches on a tricky topic that varies a lot from person to person. It suggests people can be happier when single, but there’s no clear cause and effect. The author has personal experience, which adds insight but also potential bias, especially since BuzzFeed tends to lean toward sensational content. In the end, happiness seems more about mindset than whether you're in a relationship or not.

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I enjoyed reading this fact check because it addresses the claim made but also doesn't give a direct answer to if single people are necessarily, "happier" than people in relationships. It just simply states that it can't be put to the test because it truly depends on the persons individual experience. I also liked how you took reliable sources to back up your statements as you talked about them, so I didn't get lost in your response.

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This factcheck did a great job in trying to prove it right or have some relevant back up to it. It was good that out of all the other comments posted you had a news source that you could quote from. While I agree with the other comments that this fact is very biased and hard to determine, you made a good ending point that the happiness that is trying to be proven is based off an ideal rather than actually being in a relationship. You also stated Buzzfeed isn't a strong source, Buzzfeed is known to the public as an entertainment based media, so it is safe to assume the fact was posted for public opinion like this.

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This factcheck was great, I liked how you went and looked at a source that states the counter claim. Though I do agree with this claim not having such a black and white answer there could be statistical research that supports one claim more than the other.

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This fact-check was great! I think bringing up how buzzfeed isn't that reliable of a source is important and I like how your answers were organized yet concise. I agree with you about how they didn't have the best sources. Great job!

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This was a great fact check. I do agree with the fact that this is an opinion and can't be true or false. Everyone has experienced something different in their life and have been able to fill the "holes" in their life.

Answer 5

I think there is some truth to this claim in the sense that as a single person you are less limited by a spouse and thus have less responsibilities, don't have to make time for a relationship, and certainly when it comes to dating there is a lot of money to be saved. This may set you up for a more self-fulfilling life but I would argue that for many if not most people it's within our human nature to want to have a spouse and share life's greatest memories, challenges, burdens, and victories with someone else. These are all things that would give great meaning to life and cause abundant happiness and joy, even in the midst of trial. It is even evidenced in scripture that relationships are a good thing, a gift from God and meant to fulfill us and give us happiness, "Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” This is of course in reference to the creation of Eve in Genesis 2:18(ESV).(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202%3A18&version=ESV) 

 It is interesting the statistics we are seeing today with a general rise in loneliness in society, lots of the research is linked to friendships but there has also been great connection to fewer marriages in our day and age. I believe that people who are in a healthy relationship are much more likely to be happy and avoid loneliness far more often. According to the American Psychiatric Association stating, "...with 30% of Americans aged 18-34 saying they were lonely every day or several times a week, and single adults are nearly twice as likely as married adults to say they have been lonely on a weekly basis over the past year (39% vs. 22%)." This statistic is highly alarming as it represents a nearly 2x increase in loneliness in those who are single. I believe that loneliness would be a huge roadblock to anyone trying to live a happy life. (https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/new-apa-poll-one-in-three-americans-feels-lonely-e#:~:text=Younger%20people%20were%20more%20likely,22%25).)

Comments

This factcheck is strong! It's a good start to have 2 articles that potentially target this fact in a different approach. While relationships in general are very personable and subject to the person in the relationship, that leads to various factors such as the ones you mentioned in the first sentence. I find it interesting that one of the sources take a biblical take on this since in those relationships were encouraged for happiness and evolution. I like that you did follow up with a statistic and the source that deals directly with people in my age range as well as a vast amount of people. Great job, unique take!

Answer 6

This statement can be looked at through the eyes of a person who is single and someone who is in a relationship. The author who wrote this article is credible, Katie Camero, a health and wellness journalist https://www.usatoday.com/staff/8433499001/katie-camero (about her). It doesn't give enough information about people currently in a relationship or married couples. This specific article gives an intro to this idea, but not solid overall evidence. There are more articles that can show this with studies behind them with different perspectives. An example is https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happy-together/202402/are-single-or-partnered-young-adults-happier it gives backing evidence and surveyed different people not just people who are single. 

Comments

I appreciate your use of multiple sources, and your perspective on the multiple perspectives that this claim can be seen from. Your use of Psychology Today as a source improves a lot upon the claim's original source which is a buzzfeed article. This claim is subjective and you did a great job showing that.

Answer 7

The subject this article is trying to prove is too broad and there are many influencing factors to create an accurate statistic or evidence to support the claim. I am not sure BuzzFeed is the most accurate news source. The evidence they do provide does not prove much since the claim is too broad to be able to prove. Here is a study I found better explaining the claim of the BuzzFeed article. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/02654075221122887

Answer 8

I think this article does a really good job of showing you examples of people who are happy AND singe, but does not do a lot of work in proving that the two are at all related to each other. This article had no experiment or study that scientifically searched for a genuine answer to this question which is why I think it did not prove its point. I would also not consider buzzfeed to be the most credible source of information.

Comments

I think this fact-check does an excellent job of sharing a logical opinion on both the issue and the source. However, I fail to see any of your own sources. IT would be nice to see a source that you provided so that we could get a credible alternative.

Answer 9

According to Psychology Today, It is all up to personal interpretation of a relationship. If one perceives a relationship as important, they will most likely be more miserable if they are not coupled up,"They also found that those who dismissed relationships as unimportant were more satisfied with their lives than single young adults who were less dismissive of romantic relationships" was stated in the article, "Are Single or Partnered People Happier?"

Comments

The article that you referenced was written by credible authors, but I would love to see more information from a study done specifically on this issue. The article that you used mentions a study done on the topic, and you could've used more of that to back up your factcheck.

Answer 10

Buzzfeed news claims that people who are single are happier and live more authentic lives. Personally, I am skeptical of this claim right off the bat just because I feel like relationships are personal and this is a broad statement. Even with the statistics I feel like that topic is very opinion based and can be biased based off each individuals experience. When looking this statement up no other news sources credit it and buzzfeed technically is not a reliable news source to begin with. The title on this factcheck is slightly different from the articles title and has just a brief explanation of what is written so there is very minor details. Overall, I personally think this is biased and needs more evidence to back it up.