Deconstructing Solitude and its Effects on Well-Being

Although solitude is a common experience in daily life, empirical research on its effects is scarce and challenging to interpret. Here, we propose a comprehensive framework for the study of solitude and its multifaceted impact on psychological well-being. First, we advocate for clear conceptualization and operationalizations of solitude and provide recommendations for how to achieve these objectives. Second, we tease apart various dimensions of solitude, including its duration and underlying emotional and cognitive processes. Third, we synthesize prior work on the complex relationship between solitude and well-being by integrating evidence across sub-disciplines in psychology (e.g., clinical, social, developmental). Finally, we highlight several individual and contextual factors that may be important to understanding solitary experiences. Taken together, we hope the proposed framework will equip the next generation of researchers with a systematic methodology for studying solitude and facilitate more productive research in this domain.