Affiliation:
1. Department of Work and Social Psychology Maastricht University Maastricht Netherlands
2. Department of Social Psychology Tilburg University Tilburg The Netherlands
3. Department of Quantitative Theory and Methods Emory University Atlanta Georgia USA
4. Department of Psychology University of Toronto, Mississauga Mississauga Ontario Canada
5. Department of Psychology Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA
Abstract
AbstractObjectivePeople value solitude in varying degrees. Theories and studies suggest that people's appreciation of solitude varies considerably across persons (e.g., an introverted person may value solitude more than an extraverted person), and solitude experiences (i.e., on average, people may value some functions of solitude, e.g., privacy, more than other functions, e.g., self‐discovery). What are the unique contributions of these two sources?MethodWe surveyed a quota‐based sample of 501 US residents about their perceived importance of a diverse set of 22 solitude functions.ResultsVariance component analysis reveals that both sources contributed to the variability of perceived importance of solitude (person: 22%; solitude function: 15%). Crucially, individual idiosyncratic preferences (person–by‐solitude function interaction) had a substantial impact (46%). Further analyses explored the role of personality traits, showing that different functions of solitude hold varying importance for different people. For example, neurotic individuals prioritize emotion regulation, introverted individuals value relaxation, and conscientious individuals find solitude important for productivity.ConclusionsPeople value solitude for idiosyncratic reasons. Scientific inquiries on solitude must consider the fit between a person's characteristics and the specific functions a solitary experience affords. This research suggests that crafting or enhancing positive solitude experiences requires a personalized approach.