The termsingleton describes those who live in a single-person household, especially those who prefer the lifestyle of living alone.[1][2] It was popularized by theBridget Jones novels and films,[3][4][5] but it is also used insociology.
SociologistEric Klinenberg reports that before the 1950s, no society had large numbers of people living alone. Historically, this has happened when elderly people outlive their spouses, and when men havemigrated for work. In modern times, large numbers of people have begun to live happily alone in cities and with the help of communication technologies like thetelephone,email, andsocial networking services. Klinenberg has found that the ability of women to work, own property, and initiatedivorce creates more opportunities for living alone; in countries likeSaudi Arabia where women do not haveautonomy, few people live alone.[6]
Single people may live alone before their firstromantic partner, after separation, divorce, the end of acohabiting relationship or after their partner has died.Couples, married or not, may maintain separate residences as an alternative to cohabitation in along distance relationship, a temporary separation due to troubles in the relationship, or simplyliving apart together. Since the late twentieth century, marriages across the developed world have often ended in divorce. At the same time, people increasingly choose to remain single.[7][8]
The number of singletons is correlated with how wealthy the country is.[9] In the United States, individuals saw their inflation-adjusted or real income rose by 51 percent from 1969 to 1996, compared to only 6 percent for households over the same period.[10]: 66 In wealthy countries, people are more likely to choose theprivacy,individualism, independence, and sometimes theisolation of living alone.[9][11] In the Scandinavian countries, single-person households have become commonplace.[12] Data from the Census Bureau of the United States shows that the average number of individuals per household in that country has been falling since at least 1966. More Americans are now living alone.[10]: 66 In poor countries, most people live inextended family groups, which providematerial,social, andemotional support to each other, as well as imposing the responsibility of similarly caring for other family members.[9]
Living alone has been found to significantly increase the risk ofdepression and is associated with other negative mental and physical health outcomes, especially among men, older people, and rural residents.[13]
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