Why to be lonely is good for health: 5 reasons

There is a conviction in our society that lonely people feel themselves unhappy outcasts. But a psychologist from the University of California in Santa Barbara, Bella Depaulo strongly disagrees with this statement. For all her conscious life (and now Bella 63), she has never felt unhappy, despite the fact that she was never married and has no children. More than 10 years, the expert gave study of the psychological and physical advantages of loneliness. During this time, Dr. Depaulo was able to analyze the results of more than 800 scientific studies on this issue. We learn why loneliness is good for people.

A more extensive social network

Many people mistakenly believe that married couples have more friends than single people. However, based on statistical data, a more branched social network just has a bachelor. This advantage was discovered in 2015 by sociologists Natalia Sarkisian and Naomi Gerstel, who figured out how varied the communication among adult American single and married citizens. As a result, it was found that singles more often communicate with their friends, relatives, neighbors and just acquaintances. They readily provide all possible assistance to members of their extensive social network.

On the other hand, when a lonely person has some problems, the people whom he once helped make a reciprocal step in his direction. In other words, loners still have a strong sense of elbow, which helps to survive in difficult conditions. It is curious that loneliness increases the number of social ties both in men and women, regardless of income level or cultural background.

Passion for Physical Culture

In this observation there is a certain amount of truth: many spouses, having legalized relations, "calm down" and cease to watch themselves. At least when it comes to going to the gym, this useful exercise, which strengthens health, is at the end of the list of priorities. When scientists studied the habits of more than 13,000 men and women between the ages of 18 and 64, the researchers found that bachelors spend more hours per week at the gym. Another interesting study was conducted in 2015 in Europe. When scientists compared body mass indexes of 4,500 people from nine European countries, it turned out that loners, on average, were 2.27 kilograms lighter than their married respondents.

Personal development

Analysis of the data of the national survey of families and households showed that a lonely person tends to personal growth more. Among others, respondents chose the following statements:

• Life for me is a continuous process of learning, change and career growth.
• It is important to always have new impressions that challenge me, I have a chance to change the perception of myself and the world around me.

Singles agreed with these statements, while married people avoided them.

After marriage, people become less generous

Another national representative survey was conducted in America in two stages: first in the period from 1987 to 1988, and then again in five years. Bella Depaulo analyzed the findings and found that married respondents were less likely to lend money to friends than those who had not yet parted with freedom. Note that these findings apply only to men. So, the average lonely American lends his friends and relatives $ 1,875 more than a married man. But it's worth it for a man to divorce, how his generosity grows again almost to the previous rates (by 1275 dollars).

The expert sums up: "Despite the fact that spouses who are married have several sources of income, this does not affect their generosity in any way. On the contrary, married people are less likely to share their well-being with friends and relatives. What can not be said about loners who are more willing to lend money, having only one source of income. "

Benefits for Mental Health

Psychotherapist Emmy Morin argues that loneliness has several advantages for mental health. It will also help you to be a more productive and creative person. You have more free time, which you can spend on your own. As practice has shown, most people devote this time to learning themselves better. These findings confirm the observations of other psychologists who associate loneliness with a sense of freedom, flight, creative inspiration. For example, artists often retire to create their next masterpiece.