New research reveals that reading alone in a café or listening to music during your commute may be more beneficial than complete isolation in nature, challenging common assumptions about the restorative power of total solitude.
Published in PLOS ONE | Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The quest for solitude takes many forms in our hyperconnected world. While some seek complete isolation in remote cabins or on solitary hikes, researchers from Oregon State University have discovered that less intense forms of alone time might actually be better for our wellbeing and social connections.
“We need to understand how to balance social interaction with different types of solitude,” explains Morgan Quinn Ross, assistant professor of communication in the OSU College of Liberal Arts, who led the study alongside Scott Campbell of Ohio State University.
Their research examined nearly 900 adults in the United States, investigating how different “shades” of solitude affect people. These ranged from basic solitude (simply not interacting with others) to total solitude (being completely inaccessible and disconnected from media). The findings suggest that maintaining some connection to the social world while seeking alone time may offer unique benefits.
The study’s significance extends beyond individual preferences for alone time. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, maintaining strong social ties correlates with increased lifespan, improved mental health, and reduced risk of serious conditions including heart disease, stroke, and dementia.
The researchers found that basic solitude – being alone while still having access to others and media – provided the highest levels of both restoration and social connectedness. This challenges the common belief that more complete isolation leads to better recovery from social fatigue.
Ross notes that choosing solitude with a positive mindset makes a crucial difference. “If you have a positive attitude toward solitude – because you use it to restore energy and know that you will be able to connect with people later – then choosing solitude will probably make you feel better,” he explains. “But if you choose solitude because of a negative attitude toward social interaction – because you don’t want to talk to people – it will probably make you feel worse.”
Glossary
- Basic Solitude: Being alone but maintaining potential access to others and media
- Total Solitude: Complete isolation without access to others or media engagement
- Social Restoration: The process of recharging one’s capacity for social interaction
Test Your Knowledge
What type of solitude provided the highest levels of both restoration and social connectedness?
Basic solitude – being alone while still having access to others and media – provided the highest levels of both restoration and social connectedness.
According to the CDC, what are some health benefits of maintaining strong social ties?
Strong social ties correlate with increased lifespan, improved mental health, and reduced risk of serious conditions including heart disease, stroke, and dementia.
What role does attitude play in the benefits of solitude?
Choosing solitude with a positive mindset for restoration and future connection leads to better outcomes than choosing it to avoid social interaction.
How does this research challenge traditional views about the restorative effects of complete isolation?
The study found that less complete forms of solitude, which maintain some connection to the social world, actually provide better restoration and social connectedness than total isolation.
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