New Report Challenges Stereotypes as Single Women in Ireland Report High Levels of Happiness

Katla Hólm Þórhildardóttir – Women’s Collective Ireland – Limerick, Development Worker,
Karen Sugrue – EDGE research group TUS, Cllr Elisa O’Donvan – Panel speaker, Yvie Murphy – Women’s Collective Ireland – Limerick, Coordinator

‘I’ve Never Felt Happier’: New Research by EDGE Research Group Reveals Single Women in Ireland Are Thriving

A Limerick-based research team, working alongside community partners, has launched a new report examining the experiences of single women in Ireland today. The findings reveal that the overwhelming majority of participants report being happy with their lives, with many saying they have “never felt so happy”.

Dr Lindsey Listen of the EDGE Research Group said the study comes at a time when single-person households and single lifestyles are becoming increasingly common across the Global North.

“Almost half of the population in many countries across the Global North is now single, and those numbers continue to rise. In the United States, 52% of women are single, and Ireland is closely following these trends. We need to start having more conversations about what this means. This report invited women to share their experiences of being single in Ireland today and to tell us, in their own words, what that experience is like.”

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Yvie Murphy, Coordinator of Women’s Collective Ireland (WCI) Limerick and a research partner on the project, said the report aims to challenge outdated assumptions about single women.

“There are still many old-fashioned stereotypes attached to being a single woman. These attitudes can create stigma and influence women’s freedom to make choices that are right for them. Through this research, we want to broaden the conversation about single women’s lives and challenge those stereotypes with real experiences and evidence.”

Karen Sugrue of the EDGE Research Group said the findings paint a largely positive picture of single life.

“The vast majority of participants told us they love being single. The words most commonly used to describe their experiences were ‘freedom’, ‘peace’ and ‘sanity’. At the same time, women highlighted a number of challenges, including financial pressures, housing costs, travel expenses and concerns about ageing. We hope these findings will help inform a campaign for policy changes that address the issues single women have identified.”

The report’s findings closely reflect international research on wellbeing and relationships. Researchers found that most participants enjoy living alone, value their independence and would not choose a different lifestyle.

The study also challenges common assumptions about single women. Researchers found that being alone does not necessarily mean being lonely, and that being single does not mean being celibate. Participants emphasised the importance of friendship, community and belonging, with many saying that the quality of their relationships mattered more than whether they had a romantic partner.

Many women reported that the benefits of independence, peace and wellbeing outweighed the perceived advantages of romantic partnerships, leading them to prioritise lives that align with their personal values and happiness.

The researchers also hope the findings will contribute to wider discussions about women’s safety, wellbeing and life choices.

“At a time when violence against women remains a significant concern, particularly within the home, we hope this research helps expand the range of choices available to women and supports their ability to live safe, happy and fulfilling lives on their own terms and at every stage of life.”

The research team extended its thanks to Ailbhe Smyth, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue and Elisa O’Donovan for contributing their insights and experiences as panel members; to Women’s Collective Ireland-Limerick for its partnership; to TUS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for supporting the launch; to TUS Research, Development and Innovation and Social Sciences ConneXions at Technological University of the Shannon for supporting the research; and to the women who shared their experiences through the study questionnaire.