Want to have a more fulfilled, meaningful life? Then you're better off single.

Take that smug married couples...

Finally the news that 16.2 million single people in the UK have been waiting for – we really are better off alone.

According to a recent study by Dr. Bella DePaulo, single people are more likely to have richer social lives and more psychological growth than married people.

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The psychologist examined 814 studies on single people to conclude that not only do single people value meaningful work more, but they also have a heightened sense of self-determination.

What’s more, those living the single life are more likely to experience ‘a sense of continued growth and development as a person’ according to DePaulo. This growth includes self-sufficiency – high levels of which contribute to you being less likely to experience negative emotions.

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Sound too good to be true? It gets even better. DePaulo also found that singletons are more connected with friends, family and colleagues than their married counterparts because ‘when people marry, they become more insular.’

Most importantly though, DePaulo’s study acknowledges that many people who are not in a couple as single out of choice. ‘Increasing numbers of people are single because they want to be. Living single allows them to live their best, most authentic, and most meaningful life.’

Yeah, that’s right smug couples – us singletons have a far more fulfilling life thanks to being alone.

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What we need to do now is start making people see that. According to DePaulo, the advantages of being alone are rarely acknowledged as the negative portrayal of being single in the media often overshadows the ‘profound benefits of solitude’.

"It is time for a more accurate portrayal of single people and single life - one that recognises the real strengths and resilience of people who are single, and what makes their lives so meaningful."

Amen to that. Time to delete Tinder we reckon…