Summary: Adults who enjoy days with quality time alone tend to have more fulfilling social interactions.
Source: University at Buffalo
Although many emerging adults find social interactions enjoyable on days with increased time alone, those who seek solitude as an escape from stress or unpleasant social circumstances may not, according to the results of a new study by University at Buffalo researchers.
Previous research suggests that spending too much time alone is associated with negative effects, like loneliness and emotional distress. Other studies have linked spending time alone with positive outcomes, such as reduced anger, anxiety and sadness.
But this study uniquely evaluated how spending time alone relates to how people feel about interactions with others on the same day, and whether this link depends on the reasons someone sought solitude in the first place.
“We found that people who seek solitude out of fear of, or a dislike for, social interactions experienced increased anxiety when interacting with others on days when they got more time alone than usual,” said Hope White, a graduate student in UB’s psychology department and the study’s first author.
“We think it is because such individuals do not use their solitary time in ways that are restorative.
“Instead, they might spend their alone time ruminating.”
The novel research, published in a special issue on solitude in the International Journal of Behavioral Development, provides new knowledge about the potential risks and benefits of solitude during emerging adulthood, a critical stage in the life course defined, in part, by new freedom to determine how, and with whom, one spends their time.
The study involved a diverse sample of 411 emerging adults between 18-26 years old. Participants completed daily reports on their smartphones about the amount of time they spent alone and how they felt afterwards when social interaction occurred. This novel design allowed the researchers to examine changes in time spent alone so they could determine the impact of increased time in solitude on social interactions.
“Spending time alone is common across the lifespan, and yet, we still do not fully understand when, why and for whom it confers risks versus benefits,” said Julie Bowker, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology in the UB College of Arts and Sciences, and one of the paper’s co-authors.
“However, research interest in solitude is growing and additional knowledge like that garnered from this new study could have important potential intervention implications.”
That could include the benefits of knowing that increased time alone is not always useful, according to White.
“People might benefit from direction on how to best use extra ‘me-time’ in ways that help them both individually and in their interactions with others,” said White “There is also the possibility for instruction on how to better manage negative feelings during social interactions after an extended period of solitude, especially for people who have anxiety about interacting with others.”
Moving forward White sees opportunities for further research that explores why some people experience positive or negative emotions after a period of solitude.
“Is it because they find solitude unpleasant and social interactions feel especially welcome after time alone? Does solitude affect how we interact with our relationship partners?” asks White.
“Our study moves the field forward, but there is still much to be learned about this very common everyday experience.”
About this social neuroscience research news
Author: Bert Gambini
Source: University at Buffalo
Contact: Bert Gambini – University at Buffalo
Image: The image is in the public domain
Original Research: Closed access.
“Solitude and affect during emerging adulthood: When, and for whom, spending time alone is related to positive and negative affect during social interactions” by Hope I. White et al. Journal of Behavioral Development
Abstract
Solitude and affect during emerging adulthood: When, and for whom, spending time alone is related to positive and negative affect during social interactions
The present study examines within- and between-person associations between emerging adults’ daily time spent alone and their positive/negative affect during social interactions. We also consider whether motivations for seeking solitude (shyness, unsociability, avoidance) moderate these associations.
Participants were 411 emerging adults (ages 18–26 years; 51% female; 52% ethnic minority) who reported on their motivations for solitude and completed daily reports of their time spent alone and positive/negative affect experienced during social interactions for 7 consecutive days.
Among the results, multi-level modeling indicated that on days when emerging adults spent more time alone than usual, they experienced increased levels of high and low arousal positive affect when they interacted with others.
Interactions between shy and avoidant motivations and change in time spent alone also emerged, with follow-up analyses indicating that for highly and moderately shy and avoidant emerging adults, days with more time spent alone than usual were associated with greater reports of anxious affect during social interactions.
Findings suggest that although many emerging adults may find social interactions more enjoyable on days with increased time alone, those who actively seek solitude as an escape from perceived stressful or unpleasant social circumstances may not.
