Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Loneliness Assuaged: Eye-Tracking an Audience Watching Barrage Videos
Published on: May 29, 2020
Life satisfaction, loneliness and togetherness, with an application to Covid-19 lock-downs
1Barnard College and IZA, Manhattan, NY USA.
Abstract:
Using the 2012-2013 American Time Use Survey, I show that both "who" people spend time with and "how" they spend it affect their life satisfaction, adjusted for numerous demographic and economic variables. Life satisfaction among married individuals increases most with additional time spent with one's spouse. Among singles, satisfaction decreases most as more time is spent alone. Additional time spent sleeping or TV-watching reduces satisfaction, while longer usual workweeks and higher incomes increase it. Nearly identical results are shown using the 2014-2015 British Time Use Survey. The US estimates are used to simulate the impacts of Covid-19 lock-downs on life satisfaction.
Related Concept Videos
Social Relationships and Well-Being
Importance of Need for Affiliation
Relationship Growth
Relationship Formation
Close Relationships and Culture
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

