The level of life satisfaction among individuals who are single is linked to how well their fundamental psychological requirements are met. Furthermore, attachment style and whether loneliness is viewed as a deliberate choice play a significant part, according to research published in “Personal Relationships.”
Researchers analyzed two distinct cohorts: one comprising 445 adults averaging 53 years old, and another composed of 545 university students, whose average age was approximately 19. The survey instrument measured participants’ levels of autonomy (the sense of having control over one’s life), competence (confidence in achieving objectives), and relatedness (the feeling of being supported by others). Attachment style and the perceived reasons for being single were also factored into the analysis.
The findings substantiated the notion that individuals experiencing high levels of autonomy, competence, and perceived social connection report greater overall life satisfaction alongside reduced depressive symptoms. Moreover, an anxious attachment style was found to correlate inversely with well-being. Those who frame their solitude as a chosen path toward personal freedom experience better subjective well-being than those who perceive their singlehood as an unavoidable circumstance.
Consequently, the quality of life for single people is dictated not solely by the absence of a romantic partner, but rather by the fulfillment of their core psychological needs and their cognitive framing of their current status. Interestingly, being open to casual romantic encounters demonstrated no significant impact on general life satisfaction.
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