According to the results of a recent study by researchers at the University of Buffalo, while many emerging adults find it enjoyable to be socially connected on days with more alone time, other People who prefer to be alone as a way to relieve stress or bad social situations do not.
According to previous studies, spending too much time alone can have adverse consequences such as loneliness and emotional distress. Another study has linked time alone with benefits such as reduced anger, anxiety, and depression.
However, this study evaluated whether the relationship between isolation and how people feel about interacting with others on the same day depends on why someone is seeking solitude. lonely in the first place or not.
“We found that people who sought solitude out of fear or disliked social interactions experienced increased anxiety when interacting with other people,” said Hope White, a graduate student in UB’s psychology department. other on days when they have more alone time than usual.” and first author of the study. “We think it’s because such individuals don’t use their solitary time in a restorative way.
“Instead, they can take time alone to reflect.”
The novel research, published in a special issue on loneliness in the International Journal of Behavioral Development, provides new knowledge about the potential risks and benefits of loneliness during adolescence. emerging adulthood, a pivotal stage in life defined, in part, by the new freedom to define how and with whom, a person spends their time.
The study involved a diverse sample of 411 emerging adults aged 18-26 years. Participants completed daily reports on their smartphones about the amount of time they spent alone and how they felt afterward when the social interaction took place. This novel design allows researchers to examine changes in alone time so they can determine the impact of increased alone time on social interactions.
“Spending time alone is common throughout life, however, we still don’t fully understand it,” says Julie Bowker, PhD, associate professor of psychology at UB College of Arts and Sciences. about when, why, and for whom it presents risks versus benefits”. , and one of the paper’s co-authors. “However, research interest in solitude is growing, and such additional knowledge gained from this new study may have important potential interventional implications.”
That could include benefits, according to White, knowing that increased alone time isn’t always helpful.
“People can benefit from guidance on how to best use additional ‘private time’ in ways that help them both personally and interact with others,” says White. “There is also the possibility of being taught how to better manage negative emotions in social interactions after a long period of loneliness, especially for those who are anxious about interacting with others.”
Moving forward, White sees opportunities for further research to explore why some people experience positive or negative emotions after a period of loneliness.
“Is it because they feel uncomfortable being alone and social interactions feel especially welcome after time alone? Does solitude affect how we interact with partners in your relationship?” White asked. “Our research drives this field forward, but there’s still much to be learned about this very common everyday experience.”
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