Episode 175: When Single Life Sucks

The stereotype we often hear about singles in the popular media is that they’re sad. In reality, however, a lot of them are thriving and living their best lives, which we talked all about in the previous episode. But being single isn’t sunshine and rainbows for everyone, though. For some, being single just sucks. So let’s talk about it. In this episode, we’re going take a look at when and why people struggle with single life and the factors that can make it a negative experience, including social exclusion, attachment anxiety, social pressure to be in a relationship, and more. I am joined once again by Dr. Yuthika Girme, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University in Canada, who has conducted extensive research on singlehood. Some of the topics we discuss include: In what ways are singles stigmatized or “singled out” in modern society? What is the role of family and culture in shaping people’s experiences with being single? How is singlehood experienced similarly or differently for men and women? How does sexual orientation factor into experiences with singlehood? How does attachment style impact one’s feelings about being single? Check out  the SECURE lab to learn more about Yuthika’s research, and be sure to follow her on Twitter. Thank you to our sponsors! The Modern Sex Therapy Institutes is one of the leading sex therapy certification programs in the world, meets all AASECT certification requirements, has 12 other specialty certifications, and a Ph.D. program in Clinical Sexology. Visit modernsextherapyinstitutes.com to learn more. *** Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram. Listen and stream all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast! Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.