This article by Katie Camero, "Actually, Some People Are Happier (And Healthier) Being Single," doesn’t actually claim that single people are generally happier or healthier than those in relationships. Instead, the article presents personal anecdotes from individuals who feel more content on their own, highlighting that happiness isn’t necessarily dependent on romantic relationships. However, it lacks empirical data to suggest that single people are, as a rule, happier than those with partners.
The article does reference an academic study published in Sage Journal titled, "Does singlehood isolate or integrate? Examining the link between marital status and ties to kin, friends, and neighbors." (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407515597564) This study indicates that single people often maintain stronger networks with family, friends, and colleagues, largely because they have more time to nurture these relationships. While this enhanced social network could positively impact happiness, the study also mentions that people in committed relationships gain access to different social connections. For example, married individuals are more likely to have children, which often expands their social circles through school or community networks.
Furthermore, when we look at happiness on a broader scale, other factors are essential. According to the World Happiness Report 2019 (https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2019/), social connections only account for 34% of the determinants of happiness, with other key factors including GDP (26%), healthy life expectancy (21%), freedom to make life choices (11%), generosity (5%), and perceived corruption levels (-3%). The report clearly shows that financial stability significantly influences happiness, underscoring that wealth plays a vital role in people’s overall well-being.
This is relevant since the article also mentions another study from Sage Journal, "Marriage and divorce’s impact on wealth," (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1440783305058478?journalCode=josb) which finds that marriage tends to increase wealth due to various benefits, like tax advantages, shared expenses, and health insurance perks. So, while being single might allow individuals to "live authentically" and focus on personal relationships, marriage can also provide economic and social advantages that contribute to happiness.
In short, while single people might find happiness in authentic self-expression and robust friendships, research suggests that happiness is multifaceted and influenced by a variety of factors, including financial security, which marriage often supports. Therefore, the answer isn’t so straightforward; happiness can be found both in and outside relationships, depending on individual circumstances and priorities.
