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Related Experiment Videos

The capacity to be alone as a stress buffer

R Larson1, M Lee

  • 1Department of Human and Community Development, University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign, IL 61801, USA.

The Journal of Social Psychology
|February 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Spending time alone comfortably can improve well-being, reducing depression and increasing life satisfaction. However, using solitude to cope with stress may indicate maladjustment, not a buffer against its effects.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Mental Health
  • Social Science

Background:

  • Social support is a known buffer against stress.
  • The capacity to be alone, as described by Winnicott (1958), was explored as a potential parallel buffer.
  • Previous research has not fully examined the dual nature of solitude: comfort versus coping.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that the capacity to be alone buffers stress.
  • To differentiate between comfort in solitude and using solitude for stress management.
  • To investigate the relationship between these dimensions and overall well-being.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a 20-item instrument to measure the capacity to be alone.
  • Administration of the instrument via telephone survey to 500 U.S. adults.
  • Statistical analysis to examine relationships between solitude dimensions, stress, and well-being indicators.

Main Results:

  • Comfort in being alone correlated with lower depression, fewer physical symptoms, and higher life satisfaction.
  • The ability to use time alone to deal with stress was not associated with well-being.
  • High stress individuals using solitary coping showed increased vulnerability, suggesting maladjustment.

Conclusions:

  • Comfort in solitude is linked to positive mental health outcomes.
  • Using solitude as a primary stress-coping mechanism may be detrimental.
  • The capacity to be alone has distinct dimensions impacting well-being differently.

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