Episode 174: When Being Single Is Awesome
March 10, 2023 by Justin Lehmiller
The number of American adults living single has been on the rise for years. Part of this increase has been driven by a growing number of folks who simply prefer the single life. And, for them, being single can be awesome. At the same time, though, some singles don’t want to be single and they’re pretty miserable. So let’s talk about the good, bad, and ugly of singlehood. I have a two-part series for you on what it’s like to be single today. In this episode we’re going to explore the positive side of singlehood and, next time, we’re going to explore the negative side.
I am joined by Dr. Yuthika Girme, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University in Canada. Her research focuses on reconciling the complexities associated with singlehood and relationship experiences with the aim of fostering security and well-being. Some of the topics we discuss include:
- Why have relationship researchers historically downplayed the experiences of singles?
- What are some of the reasons people might choose to be single? What do they see as the benefits?
- Why are older singles more satisfied than younger singles?
- When are singles most likely to be sexually satisfied?
- Why might someone prioritize having friendships (or platonic life partners) over romantic relationships?
- How do our personal (and cultural) values shape the experience of singlehood?
Check out the SECURE lab to learn more about Yuthika’s research, and be sure to follow her on Twitter.
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Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.
Dr. Justin Lehmiller
Founder & Owner of Sex and PsychologyDr. Justin Lehmiller is a social psychologist and Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute. He runs the Sex and Psychology blog and podcast and is author of the popular book Tell Me What You Want. Dr. Lehmiller is an award-winning educator, and a prolific researcher who has published more than 50 academic works.
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