Understanding the Link Between Affinity for Solitude and Psychosocial Adjustment During Adolescence

Time spent alone increases from childhood into adolescence. Some previous research suggests that solitude is a constructive experience, whereas other researchers argue that spending time alone may have negative implications for peer relationships during adolescence. Less is known about how different characteristics of solitude may be differentially associated with adjustment. The primary goals of my dissertation were 1) to explore whether the link between affinity for solitude and psychosocial adjustment depends on why or how often an adolescent spends time alone, 2) assess whether there are individual differences in patterns of attitudes towards solitude and experiences with solitude, and 3) identify when solitude is most associated with maladjustment during adolescence. Study 1 of my dissertation used a sample of early and mid- adolescents to examine whether affinity for solitude predicted psychosocial adjustment (i.e., depressive symptoms, social anxiety, peer victimization, friendship quality, self-esteem), controlling for previous scores on these indicators from two years earlier, and whether motivations for spending time alone (i.e., positive versus reactive) and frequency of time spent alone moderated this association. Study 2 used a person-centered approach to identify subgroups of adolescents who varied in characteristics of solitude and sociability, and then assessed whether there were group differences in earlier and concurrent psychosocial adjustment (i.e., depressive symptoms, social anxiety, peer victimization, friendship quality). Study 3 extended Study 2 to explore whether these groups of adolescents with different patterns of characteristics of solitude and sociability experienced changes in trajectories of psychosocial adjustment after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether the pandemic had a stronger effect for some groups compared to others. Overall, results indicated that affinity for solitude is relatively benign during adolescence, though this depends on why and how often adolescents spend time alone, as well as whether adolescents desire to be around others. Further, the implications of solitude may depend on contextual factors, such as the pandemic. Taken together, my dissertation highlights the importance of considering multiple characteristics of solitude, as well as sociability, to avoid broadly over pathologizing solitude during adolescence.

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