What’s the Rush? Why Some People Choose to Stay Single
Within a society of couples, many singles choose to fly solo.
Posted May 30, 2026 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma
Many singles have weathered the question from close friends and family members: "You aren’t married yet?" Often, singles who face this inquiry are the ones who seem to be completely satisfied with singlehood —much to the dismay of parents eager to become grandparents. Happy single riders are not always averse to partnering up; they are just not in any rush. Research reveals some of the reasons behind the will to wait.
Avoiding the Rush and Enjoying the Ride
Leah E. LeFebvre and Heather A. Love (2026) explored the reasons for choosing to be single among 369 college students, including reasons for never having become involved romantically. [i] They found that young people who had never been in a romantic relationship reported a lesser degree of relationship readiness as well as less dating and romantic experiences overall compared with their peers, as well as their own ideals. However, this group was also more likely to anticipate having more future dating prospects. Why the hesitation? LeFebvre and Love found that social context and apprehensiveness were among the primary themes explaining the choice to remain single at their particular stage of life. They concluded that the current lack of relational experience did not appear to affect a belief in permanent singlehood. Regarding self-view of single status, LeFebvre and Love found that study participants did not differ in the fear of singleness, implying that it is a choice, one that does not necessarily have negative results.
The Satisfaction of Being Single
Apparently, many people enjoy their own company and are not pining for a partner. We all know people who fit this description, never mind being the odd man or woman out at group events or arriving solo to a party. LeFebvre and Love found the same thing, noting that although many young adults desire romantic relationships and are disappointed to be without a partner, others experience singlehood as “freeing and satisfying.” They point out that the negative effects of singlehood on mental health and well-being, including isolation or loneliness , may be due to the stigma of singleness and its related lack of support rather than singlehood itself.
In conclusion, LeFebvre and Love challenged current views that equate singlehood with negative consequences or relationship deficits, instead showing that emerging adults without prior romantic experience maintain both agency and optimism about future romantic relationships. Their research yields a fuller picture of relationship experience and participation, including “delayed entry,” which may represent an alternative, adaptive pathway to building romantic relationships rather than a deviation from the norm.
For many singles, future romantic prospects are not defined by the past or the present; it's defined by what is possible. As many discerning solos learn when they decide to step onto the dating platform, good things come to those who wait.
[i] LeFebvre, Leah E., and Heather A. Love. “Never Been in a Romantic Relationship: Singleness and Romantic Relationship Participation in Emerging Adults.” Family Relations: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies 75, no. 2 (2026): 1273–93.
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Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., Ph.D., is a career trial attorney, behavioral analyst, author of Why Bad Looks Good , Red Flags , and co-author of the revised New York Times bestseller Reading People .
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.