Wellington, New Zealand (BBN)-The New Zealand research, from the University of Auckland and involving 4,000 participants, found people who fear relationship conflict are just as content when they are single as when in a relationship.
Lead researcher Yuthika Girme said that went against the majority of findings from previous similar studies, reports the ABC News.
“It’s a well-documented finding that single people tend to be less happy compared to those in a relationship, but that may not be true for everyone,” she said.
“Single people also can have satisfying lives.”
The study, published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, revealed people with high “avoidance social goals” — meaning they try hard to avoid disagreements — were just as happy to not have a plus one.
Being single may remove some of the anxiety triggered by relationship conflicts for those individuals, the study suggested.
But those who are not so worried about the ups and downs of being in a partnership were less happy when single.
Sexual Health Australia relationship counsellor Desiree Spierings told the ABC people could have two distinct types of social goals: avoidance social goals or approach social goals.
We can have a roof over our heads, have laughs with our friends, food on the table, enjoy life and truly be happy without a significant other.
“Are you focusing on maximising the positive outcomes in your relationship, which is approach social goals, or are you focussing on minimising the negative outcomes, which is called avoidance social goals?” she said.
“It is important to note that although some people may tend to be more approach-oriented and others may be more avoidance-oriented, you ultimately can choose what types of goals you hold.
“Especially because there is a different pathway in the brain that activates one versus the other.”
Spierings said romantic relationships where both partners had high-approach goals reaped the biggest benefits.

“Those people were more satisfied with their relationship, sexual desire didn’t decline as much over time, they felt closer to their partner, and were less likely to have thought about breaking up,” she said.
She said society could put pressure on people to be in a relationships, because it was considered the “norm”.
“If all our friends start to meet someone, live together, get married, and have a baby, it sometimes can feel like we do not belong.”
Spierings added it was important for people to realise someone does not need a partner “to be okay”.
BBN/SK/AD