New study reveals a major perk of being single

Cheyenne BuckinghamWashington Post·3 Sep, 2026 12:00 AM6 mins to read“The lived experiences of single people are understudied despite the rising numbers of folks who are delaying romantic relationships and choosing to remain single instead,” says researcher Elina Moreno.Marriage has been well-studied and has even been linked with certain mental and physical health benefits. But new research suggests that singlehood comes with its own boon. In a series of three studies, which included two diary studies followed by an experimental one, researchers examined what they call “singlehood self-expansion