So, it’s Valentine’s Day, you don’t have a partner – and you’re completely fine with that.
Well, guess what? Your health may be just fine with that too.
While it’s great to be part of a loving, romantic relationship, we can’t ignore the perks of being single either. And in a world where singlehood is on the rise, being unattached is no longer a stigma, but a lifestyle choice.
Singlehood As a Trend
Statistically speaking, the portion of singles within the Singaporean population has been expanding for well over a decade, and there are quite a few reasons why.
One significant factor is simply the fact that marriage is no longer an urgent goal.
In this modern age of “work-life balance” and “self-actualisation”, many today prioritise independence, careers, and personal growth over marriage. They could delay their marriage to a later stage of their lives – or choose not to marry at all.
The Financial and Logistical Realities of Marriage
Furthermore, the economic situation of today means that raising a family requires a lot of financial capital. Even more is the effort needed to manage a household and children, which is difficult for those with demanding jobs. In a sense, being single seems to be much more appealing!
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This can explain why many Singaporeans, in particular women, are a little more hesitant to dedicate themselves to such a venture.
“Based on conversations with young women, one reason that they have shared with me for their disinterest or reluctance relates to feeling worried that they will be caught in the double bind of not having equal partnership in terms of running the family.” Noted Dr Kalpana Vignehsa, a Senior Research Fellow in the Institute of Policy Studies, in TODAY.
“They talk about watching mothers burn out from being primarily responsible for the visible and invisible labour of running a family on top of full-time employment, and they aren’t convinced that their male counterparts are ready to step into being equal partners at home.”
In addition, young adults today have a rather unflattering view of the modern dating scene, and are of the opinion that making authentic connections have become more stressful and time-consuming.
At this point, it’s just easier to find contentment with being on your own.
The Plus Side of Being Single
As many of us singles know, being alone isn’t all doom and gloom. In fact, there may be some pretty cool benefits to not being part of a matched pair.
Better Fitness and Weight Management
It’s interesting to note that while a healthy and happy relationship is good for the soul, it may not necessarily be good for the figure.
While studies highlight that married individuals do enjoy better diets – including less processed and more organic foods – compared to singles, the same is not reflected in terms of their fitness levels. They actually tend to participate less in sports and have a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) than their unattached counterparts.
Considering that having a high BMI can lead to a greater risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and even certain cancers, it seems that there’s a slight natural advantage of being single on the body.
A More Boosted Mental State
As mentioned earlier, one of the reasons single people choose to stay single is to focus on their personal growth. This also means they may be able to devote more time to their mental wellbeing compared to married individuals.
Research has shown that singles experience continued personal development and growth, and have a greater sense of self-determination compared to married people. Furthermore, highly self-sufficient singles happened to have lower negative affect, yet negative affect was higher for highly self-sufficient married individuals.
In addition, if you’re comfortable in your solitude, it may translate to better productivity and creativity, and an increased sense of freedom.
A Wider Social Network
Unironically, flying solo means that you may be more socially connected.
This is because singles are more likely to stay in touch with family and friends compared to married people. Being able to nurture more tight-knit relationships means that you can safeguard your long-term health, as you can push back any associated risks of social isolation, including early mortality.
Taking Yourself Out on Valentine’s Day
While singlehood empowers you to embrace greater autonomy and inner peace, being on your own on a day that revels in romance and togetherness may still inspire a sense of loneliness.
But that’s alright, because Valentine’s Day is also an opportunity to pamper yourself and enjoy your own company. Who says you can’t be your own date?
Some activities you can partake in include:
- Treating yourself with some retail therapy – or even getting your own bouquet.
- Enjoying a group hangout by taking advantage of couple deals at restaurants and spas with other single friends.
- Catching a movie at the cinema or a live show (or maybe just chilling over Netflix if you favour a night in).
- Serving yourself more self-love by indulging in some extra sleep.
Remember, being single is a choice worth celebrating, and there sure are plenty of ways to make the most of it!
Read More
- Do Happy Couples Really Post Less on Social Media?
- Spouses Share a Lot – Including Heart Health, Study Shows
References
- Ang, S. (2024, July 3). ‘If it comes, it comes’: Marriage? Kids? Singles are in no rush to settle down. The Straits Times. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/if-it-comes-it-comes-marriage-kids-singles-are-in-no-rush-to-settle-down
- Bookwala, J., & Fekete, E. (2009). The role of psychological resources in the affective well-being of never-married adults. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 26(4), 411–428. Retrieved from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2843912/
- Collier, J. (2018, February 14). Five health benefits of being single. Medical News Today. Retrieved from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320924
- Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality: A Meta-Analytic Review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 227-237. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1745691614568352
- Jones, Gavin & Yanxia, Zhang & Zhi, Pamela. (2012). Understanding High Levels of Singlehood in Singapore. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 43, 731-750. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330819261_Understanding_High_Levels_of_Singlehood_in_Singapore
- Lam, N. (2024, August 10). These young Singaporeans are happy to remain single long term because of ‘exhausting, bleak’ dating culture. CNA. Retrieved from: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/today/ground-up/young-happy-single-bleak-dating-scene-4635001
- Lau, D. (2024, February 2). Women aged 21 to 49 more likely than male peers to accept being single, married without children: IPS poll. TODAY. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/women-aged-21-49-more-likely-men-single-children-marriage-ips-2351796
- Long, C. R., Seburn, M., Averill, J. R., & More, T. A. (2003). Solitude experiences: varieties, settings, and individual differences. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 29(5), 578–583. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15272992/
- Mata, J., Frank, R., & Hertwig, R. (2015). Higher body mass index, less exercise, but healthier eating in married adults: Nine representative surveys across Europe. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 138, 119–127. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953615003330
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. (n.d.). Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk. Retrieved from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/risk.htm
- Sarkisian, N., & Gerstel, N. (2016). Does singlehood isolate or integrate? Examining the link between marital status and ties to kin, friends, and neighbors. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 33(3), 361-384. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407515597564
- Tan, T. (2024, June 10). Rising share of singles is one main reason for Singapore’s great baby drought: Report. The Straits Times. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/rising-share-of-singles-is-one-main-reason-for-singapore-s-great-baby-drought-report
