Alone and online: Understanding the relationships between social media, solitude, and psychological adjustment.

Abstract

Emerging adults are heavy users of smartphones and social media, a behavioral trend that may disrupt the experience of solitude and decrease the corresponding benefits for mood regulation and identity development. This study used the experience sampling method to assess the associations between solitude, social media use, and psychological adjustment in the everyday lives of 69 college students and to investigate whether individual differences in extraversion and the preference for solitude influenced these associations. Cluster analyses showed that high-functioning introverts with high identity development and low loneliness were more likely than extraverts and low-functioning introverts to spend time truly alone without using social media, and they exhibited the lowest social media use in general. Analyses using covariance pattern modeling indicated that, contrary to expectations, participants were happier when on their devices, particularly when they were alone but preferred to be with people. These findings illustrate both the appeals and pitfalls of social media and device use. Although our moods may improve from using social media during solitude, chronic device use when alone may inhibit identity development and other psychosocial developmental tasks.

Who enjoys solitude? autonomous functioning (but not introversion) predicts self-determined motivation (but not preference) for solitude

“…This inference is rooted in the conception that the lack of social engagement is equivalent to enjoyment of the opposite state—aloneness. Our research findings contradicted this idea, and were different from the findings in a recent study by Thomas et al [ 50 ]. In their study, the authors distinguished between high-functioning (happy) and low-functioning (not-happy) introverts, while our studies did not.…”

Addictive Use of Social Media and Motivations for Social Media Use Among Emerging Adult University Students

“…The current findings suggest that female students more frequently experience the addictive use of social media. This finding is consistent with a past study that showed being female was positively associated with the addictive use of social media (15). According to Andreassen et al, this might be explained as "female proneness toward activities that involve social interaction and cooperation" (15).…”

“…In line with the above findings, other studies found that social media addiction was negatively related to mental health, academic performance, and self-esteem (28,29,30,44). A study conducted by Andreassen et al found that being female was positively associated with addictive social networking and activities that involve social interaction and cooperation (15). While these studies focused on the relationship between social media addiction and other factors (e.g., mental health, personality traits), the relationship between the motives for social media use and other variables such as addictive use of social media has been analyzed even less.…”

“…For example, in a recent study examining college students' level of extraversion in relation to social media, Thomas et al found that highfunctioning introverts were more likely to spend time alone without using social media than extroverts and low-functioning introverts (14). While there has been a growing body of literature on the effects of social media use among emerging adults, research on the relationship between the addictive use of social media (15,19,20) and motivations for social media use is quite scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to take a closer look at gender differences in social media use motivations, and possible associations between addictive use of social media and motivations for social media use among emerging adult university students.…”

Examining the Direction of Effects Between COVID-19 Experiences, General Well-Being, Social Media Engagement, and Insomnia Symptoms Among University Students

“…In one study of adults, higher anxiety was significantly associated with increased use of technology to connect with others to cope with the pandemic (Drouin et al, 2020). For emerging adults who face interpersonal and psychological challenges, the ease and accessibility that online communication provides may be an appealing feature when seeking emotional support during periods of isolation (Thomas et al, 2020). Some online platforms also provide opportunities to participate in specific causes that might facilitate a sense of belonging among individuals who might otherwise feel disconnected from their physical social networks.…”