A lifespan psychological perspective on solitude

Abstract

Solitude occurs from childhood to old age. In this special issue introduction, we offer a lifespan perspective on matters of solitude with the aim to point to pertinent issues in the field. We propose that solitude serves important functions that may vary across different times in life and that solitude needs to be considered in the context in which it occurs. In applying these lifespan developmental notions, we carve out some open questions that will help extend the current knowledge base including a consideration of issues regarding operational definitions of solitude. We also point to methodological challenges such as capturing processes that unfold on different timescales that need to be addressed to advance the field.

Daily solitude and well‐being associations in older dyads: Evidence from daily life assessments

“…Older adults spend a significant amount of their waking time by themselves, making it an important phenomenon to study (Chui et al, 2014; Lay et al, 2019; Pauly et al, 2017). We build on the existing literature seeking to provide a more nuanced picture of solitude experiences in older adulthood (Chui et al, 2014; Hoppmann & Pauly, 2022). We hypothesize that individuals who report more desired solitude will report higher positive affect and lower negative affect and that individuals who report more bothersome solitude will show elevated negative affect and reduced positive affect.…”

“…Solitude is typically defined as a state of physical aloneness or the absence of social interactions, and it is a common experience; most people spend a large proportion of their waking time by themselves (Burger, 1995; Hoppmann et al, 2021; Larson, 1990). Solitude can be assessed on a spectrum; it has been associated with both positive and negative outcomes (Hoppmann et al, 2021; Hoppmann & Pauly, 2022). For instance, solitude can manifest negatively, with feelings similar to those of loneliness, but also positively to the extent that it provides individuals with time to recharge and replenish.…”

“…Solitude is distinct from loneliness, which stems from a lack of desired social interactions (Perlman & Peplau, 1981). In line with recent work critiquing deficit‐based definitions of solitude as an absence of social interactions, we operationally define solitude as time to oneself (Choi et al, 2022; Hoppmann & Pauly, 2022). Solitude can have positive (e.g., a time for reflection and creativity) and negative (e.g., a time to ruminate) components (Lay et al, 2019; Pauly et al, 2021).…”

“…Solitude may serve different functions across the lifespan, and it may be experienced more positively in old age for multiple reasons (Hoppmann & Pauly, 2022). First, theories on social interactions highlight their energy intensity (Hall et al, 2023); social interactions may require more energy in old age as compared to earlier life phases creating an increased need of recovery and self‐care (Lang & Baltes, 1997; Luo et al, 2022).…”

“…Second, older adults prioritize emotionally meaningful connections and may thus choose solitude over social interactions that are not meaningful (Birditt et al, 2019). Third, older adults might experience solitude less negatively because they use time to themselves for self‐regulation and they may be better equipped to manage negative emotions that may arise from solitude (Hoppmann & Pauly, 2022; Nikitin et al, 2022). Older adults spend a significant amount of their waking time by themselves, making it an important phenomenon to study (Chui et al, 2014; Lay et al, 2019; Pauly et al, 2017).…”