Which of the following is NOT cited as a reason for the growth in single-person households?

• A. Decline in marriage
• B. Rise in divorce
• C. Higher life expectancy of women
• D. Urbanization

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is what actually drives more people to live on their own. More individuals end up in single-person households when patterns of intimate relationships change and when people live longer. If fewer people marry or if more marriages end in divorce, there are more people who aren’t part of a couple, so living alone becomes more common. Additionally, longer life expectancy, especially for women, means more people live alone later in life after their partner dies. Urbanization, while it shapes where people live and can influence housing and social networks, isn’t typically cited as a direct cause of a rise in single-person households. It’s more about place and housing context than about the likelihood of living alone, so it’s not considered a primary driver here.