Transient Loneliness and the Perceived Provision and Receipt of Capitalization Support Within Event-Disclosure Interactions

Abstract

Research affirms that loneliness is a distressing experience with social-perceptual and behavioral consequences. Yet, little is known about consequences of transient loneliness, particularly within social interactions. The current study builds on reaffiliation motive and evolutionary models of state loneliness to investigate the effects of experimentally manipulated loneliness on individual and interaction partner perceptions during an event-sharing interaction, within 97 female dyads. Actor-partner interdependence mediation analyses revealed indirect effects for induction group (high vs. low loneliness) on positive affect, enjoyment, responsiveness, and partner positive affect, via induced state loneliness. Furthermore, state loneliness influenced actor and partner provision of responsiveness, via perceived responsiveness. Results reveal interpersonal consequences of transient loneliness, offering preliminary insight into conditions through which state perceptions of isolation may interfere with engagement in positive social interactions. Furthermore, implications for previously theorized evolutionary models of state loneliness and the reaffiliation motive are discussed.

Using playful work design to deal with hindrance job demands: A quantitative diary study.

“…An example item is “Today, I got into arguments with someone at work” (mean α = .87). Social isolation at work was assessed by contextualizing the daily version (Arpin & Mohr, 2019) of the three-item revised-UCLA loneliness scale to work (Hughes et al, 2004), including “Today, I felt isolated from others at work” (mean α = .83). Daily emotional demands were measured with three items from the Emotional Demands Scale (Xanthopoulou et al, 2013), including “Today, my work was emotionally demanding” (mean α = .86).…”

Is one the loneliest number? A within-person examination of the adaptive and maladaptive consequences of leader loneliness at work.

“…At the same time, Ozcelik and Barsade (2018) also noted that loneliness may be adaptive when experienced in the short term “such as feeling lonely for an afternoon” because it may enhance “motivation to build or rebuild affiliations” (p. 2345). Considered from an evolutionary view, these arguments suggest that transient loneliness from sociocontextual events (Arpin & Mohr, 2019), such as loneliness stemming from one’s followers, may instigate beneficial and detrimental effects.…”

“…On the one hand, feelings of loneliness may feed into a maladaptive self-reinforcing cycle of loneliness, wherein leaders focus on the negative experience of feeling socially isolated, impeding any thoughts of how one can make social improvements (Frijda, 1994; Ozcelik & Barsade, 2018). On the other hand, loneliness may signal that interpersonal relationships must be restored (Cacioppo, Hawkley, et al, 2006), with transient feelings of loneliness motivating adaptive thoughts and subsequent actions aimed at enhancing social connection (Arpin & Mohr, 2019; Qualter et al, 2015). Thus, it is theoretically plausible that feelings of loneliness stemming from one’s followers may motivate two forms of rumination after work as leaders process their day: affect-focused rumination and problem-solving pondering (Cropley & Zijlstra, 2011; Querstret & Cropley, 2012).…”

“…Prior work that has highlighted the aversive nature of loneliness, however, has largely focused on stable feelings of loneliness (Cacioppo & Patrick, 2008; Heinrich & Gullone, 2006), rather than short-term feelings that could impact a person’s drive to rebuild relationships (e.g., Ozcelik & Barsade, 2018; Qualter et al, 2015). We contribute to this work by focusing on daily leader loneliness (i.e., transient loneliness; Arpin & Mohr, 2019), and studying how loneliness is sustained (via increased affect-focused rumination and reduced work engagement and helping) or reduced (via increased problem-solving pondering and increased work engagement and helping) day-to-day.…”

Loneliness in Malta: Findings from the first National Prevalence Study

“…The health impacts of loneliness as a predictor of mortality have been likened to smoking, obesity, and being physically inactive (Holt-Lunstad et al, 2015). Loneliness can also lead to a negative cycle of reduced social interaction, which may further exacerbate it's associated ill-effects on wellbeing (Arpin & Mohr, 2019). Furthermore, the poor health outcomes implicated in loneliness can compromise a person's "ability to live independently in the community" (Yang & Victor, 2011, p. 1369.…”