Those married not necessarily happier than single counterparts ...

Singlehood is a swiftly-growing lifestyle according to the U.S. Census Bureau, encompassing more than 30 million never-married, divorced and widowed individuals.

Sociologists and other relationship experts say the old notion that being unmarried is a curse of unhealthiness and unhappiness is nonsense. Experts say what a person does in singlehood as a result of choice, divorce or widowhood makes an enormous difference.

Some studies have reported nothing but negative news about the single lifestyle. Research found that strong marital relationships contribute to long life, emotional happiness and physical good health while single people seem like sad sacks of mental and physical illness by comparison.

Some sociologists say the perceived happiness-and-health wedge between marrieds and singles is crumbling. The rise and acceptance of the single lifestyle has forced relationship experts to take a second look. New researchers say the keys to longevity and wellbeing are not the automatic product of marriage, but of the quality of relationships for single and married people alike.

Singleness moved from a suspect state to a lifestyle choice during the last 30 years, according to statistics. More than 5 million people under age 35 in the U.S. are single, although not all people are single by choice. Eleven million elderly people live alone, many of them women whose spouses have died. Most single 35-year-olds to 65-year-olds are divorced, but societal attitudes about marriage and remarriage have changed. Singletons are accepted in society without pressure to marry or recommit.

Researchers have observed that singles who take care of their health and develop supportive relationships have just as many opportunities for long live, robust health and stable emotions as married people.

The New York University sociologist, who authored the book "Going Solo," believes that all marriages do not produce instantly happy, healthy individuals. He also believes that all singles cannot be lumped into one group. The author maintains that many studies about wellbeing only compare married people to never-married individuals. The results are skewed by dismissing divorced and widowed singles and individuals' feelings about being single.

Modern researchers agree that what makes a person happy depends greatly on an individual's involvement in life. Experts say health and happiness belongs to individuals, single or married, who take personal responsibility for developing these traits.

Source: chicagotribune.com, "How To Live Alone Without Being Lonely," Philip Moeller, Mar. 30, 2012

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