New research published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin on Aug. 7 reports that being single can provide a unique opportunity for personal growth. The study, led by Elina Moreno, a graduate student at the University of Toronto who conducted the research at Simon Fraser University with Dr. Yuthika Girme, examined how single individuals perceive their potential for self-expansion.
The theory of self-expansion suggests that people incorporate others' ideas and experiences into their own sense of self through relationships. While previous studies focused on romantic partnerships, this new research shows that similar growth can occur in non-romantic relationships and even during periods of solitude.
"Many single people maintain their singlehood because it makes them feel like they have the autonomy and freedom to focus on personal goals, like hobbies, their career, and travel," said Moreno. "We wondered whether single people who believe that they are able to gain new experiences because of their singlehood status benefit from this mentality."
Researchers asked participants to report their perceived potential for self-expansion as singles and monitored their behavior over time. Those who believed that being single allowed them to expand themselves were more likely to engage in novel activities such as learning new skills, playing team sports, or dining out with friends.
The study found that up to 82% of single participants leveraged non-romantic close relationships—including family or friends—for self-expanding experiences. Eighteen percent reported engaging in such activities alone, indicating that solitude may also present opportunities for growth.
Moreno said the findings should not be interpreted as suggesting that being single is superior to romantic relationships regarding personal development: "If people want to maintain their singlehood, self-expanding experiences could be beneficial for bolstering their well-being over time and providing them with opportunities to get to know themselves," she said. "Alternatively, if a single person is seeking a romantic relationship, they could still make the most of their singlehood and experience personal growth along the way."
