Motivation matters: Development and validation of the Motivation for Solitude Scale - Short Form (MSS-SF)

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Motivation significantly influences the psychological impact of solitude.
• Existing measures do not adequately differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for solitude.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Motivation for Solitude Scale - Short-Form (MSS-SF).
• To differentiate between intrinsic (self-determined) and extrinsic (not self-determined) motivations for solitude.
• To assess the scale's reliability and validity in adolescents and emerging adults.

Main Methods:

• Scale development and validation using survey data from 803 emerging adults and 176 adolescents.
• Confirmatory Factor Analyses were employed to establish the scale's structure.
• Participants completed the MSS-SF alongside measures of well-being and personality.

Main Results:

• The MSS-SF demonstrated a reliable two-factor structure: self-determined solitude (SDS) and not self-determined solitude (NSDS).
• The scale showed satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity in both adolescent and emerging adult samples.
• Extrinsically motivated solitude correlated with loneliness, social anxiety, and depression.
• Intrinsically motivated solitude positively correlated with well-being, especially in emerging adults.

Conclusions:

• The MSS-SF effectively distinguishes between self-determined and not self-determined motivations for solitude.
• Understanding motivation for solitude is crucial for assessing its psychological risks and benefits.
• The scale aids researchers in examining the nuances of solitude experiences in adolescents and emerging adults.