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Adams M, Weinstein N. Need satisfaction in daily well-being: Both social and solitude contexts contribute to well-being. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38801220 DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Daily need satisfaction for relatedness (social connection), autonomy (volitional self-congruent action), and competence (self-efficacy) fosters well-being, but those findings primarily reflect experiences during social interactions. A three-week daily diary study (N = 178) explored psychological need satisfaction in two key everyday contexts: solitude and social. Holding constant the benefits of need-satisfying social contexts, autonomy satisfaction during solitude was key to peaceful affect, whereas competence satisfaction during solitude contributed to lower loneliness; both psychological needs in solitude contributed to evaluating the day as more satisfying. Relatedness-deficiency in solitude did not contribute to loneliness; instead, those who were relatedness-deficient in social interactions felt lonely. Further, need satisfaction in solitude compensated for deficient needs in social contexts, reducing loneliness (autonomy and relatedness) and increasing day satisfaction (all needs) when social contexts failed to satisfy needs. Findings suggest daily solitude can shape daily well-being and further attention is needed to understand and ultimately improve everyday solitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Adams
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Netta Weinstein
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
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Nguyen TVT, Konu D, Forbes S. Investigating solitude as a tool for downregulation of daily arousal using ecological momentary assessments. J Pers 2024. [PMID: 38757772 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This research explored arousal levels as a motivating factor for solitude-seeking. We hypothesized that solitude becomes more desirable when high-arousal emotions were heightened and individual differences in extraversion and neuroticism would moderate this pattern. METHOD We tracked individuals' hourly experiences throughout a day. We assessed their high-arousal positive (e.g., excitement) and negative emotions (e.g., tension), whether they were alone or with others, and their preferred situation at the time of the signal. We gathered 4338 surveys from 362 participants, with 103 participants completing all hourly surveys. RESULTS Preference for and incidence of solitude changed throughout the day. Contrary to our hypotheses, lagged analyses did not indicate high-arousal emotions predicting reports of being alone an hour later. However, individuals were more likely to express a preference for solitude while experiencing high-arousal negative emotions, and less so while experiencing positive emotions. Younger individuals display stronger preference for solitude during experiences of high-arousal negative emotions. Extraversion and neuroticism did not moderate these patterns. CONCLUSIONS The results highlight the distinctive appeal of solitude as a space for young adults to deal with negative emotions. We discussed how these findings are connected to existing literature and implications for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Delali Konu
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Samuel Forbes
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK
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Hofer MK, Robillard CL, Legg NK, Turner BJ. Influence of perceived peer behavior on engagement in self-damaging behaviors during the transition to university. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE 2024. [PMID: 38533800 DOI: 10.1111/jora.12933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
As students transition to university, they experience significant social changes that can affect their behaviors, including self-damaging behaviors like disordered eating, problematic alcohol/drug use, suicidal thoughts, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Building on prior work, we examined the associations between (1) perceptions of peers' engagement in self-damaging behaviors predicting one's own subsequent engagement in such behaviors (i.e., socialization) and (2) one's own engagement in self-damaging behaviors predicting perceptions of peers' subsequent engagement in such behaviors (i.e., selection). We also examined whether these associations were moderated by the source of influence (close peer/acquaintance) and degree of social disconnection experienced by the student. First-year university students (N = 704) were asked to complete seven monthly surveys. Multilevel models indicated that when students perceived their close peers had engaged in NSSI or suicidal thinking, they had seven times greater odds of future engagement in the same behavior, implying that socialization increases the risk of these behaviors among university students. Perception of acquaintances' NSSI also predicted greater odds of a student's own NSSI the following month. Social disconnection increased the likelihood of matching own behaviors to perceptions of acquaintances' alcohol abuse, highlighting the importance of fostering connections/mentors to reduce self-damaging behaviors on college campuses. Furthermore, when students engaged in alcohol abuse, they had almost four times greater odds of reporting that their acquaintances abused alcohol the following month, emphasizing the importance of the wider social network in alcohol use behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlise K Hofer
- Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christina L Robillard
- Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nicole K Legg
- Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Brianna J Turner
- Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Ren D, Loh WW, Chung JM, Brandt MJ. Person-specific priorities in solitude. J Pers 2024. [PMID: 38279643 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE People value solitude in varying degrees. Theories and studies suggest that people's appreciation of solitude varies considerably across persons (e.g., an introverted person may value solitude more than an extraverted person), and solitude experiences (i.e., on average, people may value some functions of solitude, e.g., privacy, more than other functions, e.g., self-discovery). What are the unique contributions of these two sources? METHOD We surveyed a quota-based sample of 501 US residents about their perceived importance of a diverse set of 22 solitude functions. RESULTS Variance component analysis reveals that both sources contributed to the variability of perceived importance of solitude (person: 22%; solitude function: 15%). Crucially, individual idiosyncratic preferences (person-by-solitude function interaction) had a substantial impact (46%). Further analyses explored the role of personality traits, showing that different functions of solitude hold varying importance for different people. For example, neurotic individuals prioritize emotion regulation, introverted individuals value relaxation, and conscientious individuals find solitude important for productivity. CONCLUSIONS People value solitude for idiosyncratic reasons. Scientific inquiries on solitude must consider the fit between a person's characteristics and the specific functions a solitary experience affords. This research suggests that crafting or enhancing positive solitude experiences requires a personalized approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongning Ren
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- Department of Social Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Wen Wei Loh
- Department of Quantitative Theory and Methods, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Joanne M Chung
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark J Brandt
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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Ost-Mor S, Segel-Karpas D, Palgi Y, Yaira HR, Mayan S, Ben-Ezra M, Greenblatt-Kimron L. Let there be light: The moderating role of positive solitude in the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms. Int Psychogeriatr 2023:1-5. [PMID: 37800183 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610223000698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Positive solitude (PS), the choice of being alone to engage in meaningful inner or physical, spiritual, mental, or cognitive activity/ experience, was recently suggested as a stand-alone phenomenon differentiated from loneliness and negative solitude. As loneliness was previously found to have adverse implications for mental health, the present study examined whether the ability to engage in PS can moderate the harmful effect of loneliness on depressive symptoms. The sample consisted of 520 community-dwelling older adults in Israel aged 68-87 (Mage = 72.66). Participants answered an online questionnaire through a survey company (Ipanel) assessing their background characteristics, depressive symptoms, loneliness, and PS. Loneliness was positively associated with depressive symptoms, whereas PS was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Furthermore, PS moderated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms, such that higher levels of PS weakened this association. The findings indicate that PS may serve as a buffering factor for mental health among older adults by augmenting coping with the adverse outcomes of loneliness. The results provide insight for tailoring future treatment interventions focusing on PS to enhance mental health among older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Ost-Mor
- Department of Gerontology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Yuval Palgi
- Department of Gerontology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Shacham Mayan
- Unit of Medical Education, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Rodriguez M, Pratt S, Bellet BW, McNally RJ. Solitude can be good-If you see it as such: Reappraisal helps lonely people experience solitude more positively. J Pers 2023. [PMID: 37724779 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Solitude is a common experience that can elicit both positive (e.g., relaxation) and negative (e.g., loneliness) emotions. But can changing the way we think about solitude improve its emotional effects? In a previous study, our team found that positively reframing solitude buffers against a reduction in positive affect when alone. Yet, it is unknown whether people who are lonely-and thus more likely to experience solitude negatively-benefit from modifying their beliefs about being alone. METHOD Here, we test whether reframing solitude as a beneficial experience or de-stigmatizing loneliness helps people experiencing moderate-to-severe loneliness (N = 224) feel more positive emotion and less negative emotion during solitude. We randomly assigned participants to read about either the benefits of solitude, the high prevalence of loneliness, or a control topic. Then, participants spent 10 min alone in the laboratory. State affect was assessed before and after the solitude period. RESULTS Across conditions, the solitude period reduced high-arousal positive (e.g., excited) and high-arousal negative (e.g., anxious) affect. Notably, people who read about the benefits of solitude experienced a significantly larger increase in low-arousal positive affect compared with the control condition. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that lonely individuals can more readily reap the emotional benefits of solitude when they reframe solitude as an experience that can enhance their well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micaela Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Samuel Pratt
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Benjamin W Bellet
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Richard J McNally
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Choi Y, Pauly T, Zambrano Garza E, Broen T, Gerstorf D, Hoppmann CA. Having time to oneself in times of extended togetherness: Solitude experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2023; 15:217-237. [PMID: 36135342 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated how time to oneself (solitude) is experienced under conditions of extended togetherness with household members during the pandemic. Both structural (living arrangements) and qualitative characteristics (relationship quality and conflict) were examined for their association with solitude desire and daily solitude-affect links. We expected that people living with others and those with more high-quality as well as those with more conflictual relationships would report better affect quality when experiencing solitude. A Canadian adult lifespan sample (N = 141; Mage = 38.43 years, SDage = 17.51; 81% female; 73% White; data collected from April to August 2020) provided information on household size and relationship characteristics and completed repeated daily life assessments of solitude desire, solitude, and affect. Findings show that living arrangements were not associated with an increased desire for solitude or better affect quality from solitude. Individuals reporting higher relationship quality and individuals reporting more conflict showed more favorable affect quality on days when they had time in solitude than individuals reporting lower quality relationships and lower conflict. Findings add to the growing solitude literature by delineating who seeks and benefits from solitude, and under what conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonseok Choi
- Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Theresa Pauly
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elizabeth Zambrano Garza
- Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tiana Broen
- Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Denis Gerstorf
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christiane A Hoppmann
- Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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McVarnock A, Cheng T, Polakova L, Coplan RJ. Are you alone? Measuring solitude in childhood, adolescence, and emerging adulthood. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1179677. [PMID: 37151973 PMCID: PMC10156970 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1179677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The goal of this review was to provide an overview of how solitude has been operationally defined and measured since the year 2000 in psychological studies of children, adolescents, and emerging adults. After applying exclusionary criteria, our review of the extant literature identified n = 19 empirical studies, which we grouped into three broad methodological categories: (1) experiments/manipulations (n = 5); (2) retrospective reports (n = 7); and (3) experience sampling measures (experience sampling methodology; n = 7). A review of these studies indicated considerable variation in how solitude is operationalized and measured. There is also a notable lack of studies measuring solitude in childhood. Implications for 'what matters' when assessing solitude are discussed, and we provide a series of suggestions for helping this research area move forward.
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