One Person Households

• Explanations for Increase in One Person Households:

  > increase in divorce

  > decrease in marriage

  > creative singlehood

  > decline in stigma
• One Person Households - Increase in Divorce:

  > this has created more one person households, especially among men under 65

  > this is because, following divorce, any children are more likely to live with their mother, and the father is more likely to leave the family home
• One Person Households - Decrease in Marriage:

  > due to a decline in marriage and people marrying later, more people are remaining single

  > the proportion of single adults has risen by half since 1971
• One Person Households - Creative Singlehood:

  > Stein - there are growing number of people who are opting for 'creative singlehood', which is the deliberate choice to live alone
• One Person Households - Decline in Stigma:

  > no longer seen as odd

  > it is acceptable and normalised in society to live alone
• Explanations for Increase in 'Living Apart Together'

  > decline in stigma

  > changing position of women

  > limited finances
• Living Apart Together - Decline in Stigma:

  > living separately is now more socially acceptable - a majority believe that a couple do not need to live together to have a strong relationship

  > 20% saw 'living apart together' as their ideal relationship
• Living Apart Together - Changing Position of Women:

  > women are now financially independent and can afford to live alone

  > this due to societal and legal changes, such as Equality Act 2010 and Equal Pay Act
• Living Apart Together - Limited Finances:

  > couples may not have the money to live together, such as being unable to afford a mortgage

  > this may be due to the cost of living crisis, debt, low income or they are still in education