New Media and Solitude

Burnell, Kaitlyn; George, Madeleine J.; Underwood, Marion K.

doi:10.1002/9781119576457.ch18

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 96 publications

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“…Notably, the social context of digital media use may also play an important role, whether the activity is done in solitude (e.g., watching television or gaming alone) or with others (co-playing/viewing; Burnell et al, 2021). For example, for some individuals, using digital media while alone can help to reduce stress (Leung, 2015) and increase positive mood (Thomas et al, 2021).…”

Section: Differential Communication Functions Of Various Digital Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

Norwegian Adolescents in the Initial Stages of COVID-19 Restrictions

Hygen,

Skalicka,

Coplan

et al. 2024

Journal of Media Psychology

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in March 2020, the Norwegian government closed schools and limited leisure activities. In this cross-sectional study, we examined how different types of digital versus in-person social interactions and digital media use were associated with loneliness and mental health problems among adolescents during the initial COVID-19 lockdown. Participants ( N = 703, 79.7% girls , Mage = 17.3 years) completed a questionnaire assessing loneliness, mental health problems, digital media use, and in-person interactions. Both in-person and digital social interaction (texting) with friends were negatively associated with adolescents’ mental health problems and loneliness. By contrast, time spent alone on screen and on social media was positively related to mental health problems. The findings highlight that during the first weeks of the pandemic and of social distancing, increased interactions (either in-person or digital) among adolescents and their friends coincided with lower levels of mental health problems and less loneliness.

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Section: Differential Communication Functions Of Various Digital Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

Norwegian Adolescents in the Initial Stages of COVID-19 Restrictions

Hygen,

Skalicka,

Coplan

et al. 2024

Journal of Media Psychology

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“…This research is timely because individuals are increasingly spending more of their hours alone, sometimes volitionally, as in the recent trend worldwide trend of choosing to live alone (Klinenberg, 2012) or involuntarily, as in the case of being widowed (Dahlberg et al, 2018) or socially isolated due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic (Luchetti et al, 2020). In addition, people of all ages are increasingly spending more time alone online, and the costs and benefits of solitary digital technology have been documented and regularly updated as these technologies continue to evolve and become more mainstream (see Burnell et al, 2021, for a review). While some studies have found that solitary online experiences can be useful, for example in terms of relieving stress (Leung, 2015) or accessing mental health resources (Hollis et al, 2020), other evidence indicates that excessive smartphone use is a lonely, isolating experience rather than a socially connected one (Kim, 2021; Thomas et al, 2021; Twenge et al, 2019).…”

Section: Defining Solitudementioning

confidence: 99%

Solitude skills and the private self.

Thomas¹

2023

Qualitative Psychology

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The construct of solitude skills suggests that successfully navigating the domain of solitude may require specific psychological resources, but this theoretical possibility has not yet been investigated empirically. Fourteen well-adjusted adults (M age = 49.5) participated in a qualitative study that examined their lived experiences with solitude and sought to identify the skills they utilized when engaging in positive solitude. Thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) of narrative data resulted in the identification of eight solitude skills organized within three central concepts: Connect with Self included the skills of enjoying solitary activities, emotion regulation, and introspection; the skills included in Protect Time were making time to be alone, using that time mindfully, and validating one's need for solitude; and the skills of Find a Balance included heeding signals to enter solitude and knowing when to exit solitude. These findings illuminate how the documented benefits of solitude are enacted and illustrate how solitude sustains the private self, which clinicians have argued promotes well-being (Modell, 1992). Knowledge of these skills may be valuable for those who volitionally enter solitude as well as those who find themselves in unwanted isolation. These findings lay the groundwork for future studies to examine whether the solitude skills identified here apply to other populations, and to explore the efficacy of solitude skills trainings in promoting psychological well-being or as a clinical intervention.

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Staying Together While Apart

Bayer,

White,

Ehrenreich

2024

The Social Science of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Social media and digital communication have had a powerful impact on the way that people interact with their peers and peer networks. Although researchers have identified both strengths and weaknesses of engaging with social networks via digital media, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social distancing forced many to rely almost entirely on these digital platforms for peer interaction. People’s experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic varied greatly and were often shaped by their digital media usage. The transformational framework proposes five primary ways that social media has changed peer relationships. This chapter examines how these key aspects of social media facilitated (and at times hindered) efforts to stay connected with peers during COVID-19 social distancing procedures. The chapter offers general ideas for future research on this topic related to the pandemic experiences. The lessons that can be learned for policymakers, educators, and parents are also discussed.

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New Media and Solitude

Cited by 6 publications

References 96 publications

Norwegian Adolescents in the Initial Stages of COVID-19 Restrictions

Norwegian Adolescents in the Initial Stages of COVID-19 Restrictions

Solitude skills and the private self.

Staying Together While Apart

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