Person-specific priorities in solitude

Abstract

Objective: People value solitude in varying degrees. Theories and studies suggest that people's appreciation of solitude varies considerably across persons (e.g., an introverted person may value solitude more than an extraverted person), and solitude experiences (i.e., on average, people may value some functions of solitude, e.g., privacy, more than other functions, e.g., self-discovery). What are the unique contributions of these two sources?

Method: We surveyed a quota-based sample of 501 US residents about their perceived importance of a diverse set of 22 solitude functions.

Results: Variance component analysis reveals that both sources contributed to the variability of perceived importance of solitude (person: 22%; solitude function: 15%). Crucially, individual idiosyncratic preferences (person-by-solitude function interaction) had a substantial impact (46%). Further analyses explored the role of personality traits, showing that different functions of solitude hold varying importance for different people. For example, neurotic individuals prioritize emotion regulation, introverted individuals value relaxation, and conscientious individuals find solitude important for productivity.

Conclusions: People value solitude for idiosyncratic reasons. Scientific inquiries on solitude must consider the fit between a person's characteristics and the specific functions a solitary experience affords. This research suggests that crafting or enhancing positive solitude experiences requires a personalized approach.

Keywords: conscientiousness; extraversion; individual differences; neuroticism; personality; solitude; variance component analysis.

FIGURE 1

Illustration of the two existing theoretical perspectives on variation in perceived importance of solitude (Kodapanakkal et al., 2021): Variation due to person (top panel) and solitude function (bottom panel). The x‐axis represents different solitude functions, the y‐axis represents importance ratings, and the colored lines represent different individuals. All data are hypothetical.

FIGURE 2

Variation in perceived importance of solitude across solitude functions (pilot study). The x‐axis represents the six solitude functions and the y‐axis represents participants’ importance ratings. The colored lines represent different individuals randomly selected from each sample. The solitude functions are arranged from left to right in descending order of mean importance ratings in a merged dataset consisting of both samples. Overall, we observed that (a) there was variation across the solitude functions (i.e., some functions were more valued than others), and (b) there was variation across individuals (e.g., participant 268 valued solitude more than participant 142). We also see that people value different solitude functions differently. This source of variation is examined in the preregistered study.

FIGURE 3

Model comparison p‐values (pilot study). We compared whether or not a model including a Big Five personality dimension explained more variation in each of the six importance ratings compared to a model without the given dimension. Model comparison p‐values are adjusted for multiple testing. Adjusted p‐values are visualized, with darker colors corresponding to smaller p‐values. p‐values that are larger than the alpha level (.05) are not visible (i.e., in color white). The x‐axis represents the personality dimensions and the y‐axis represents the solitude functions. The solitude functions are arranged from top to bottom in descending order of mean importance ratings.

FIGURE 4

Unstandardized estimates of the Big Five dimensions (pilot study). For each of the six ratings and each personality dimension, we fitted models with predictors including the demographic/background variables, one variable indicating the sample, and one personality dimension. The unstandardized estimates of the personality dimensions are visualized, with darker colors corresponding to larger estimates. Positive estimates are in the color red, and negative estimates are in the color blue. Black boarders indicate significant model‐comparison p‐values (see Figure 3 for p‐values). The x‐axis represents the personality dimensions and the y‐axis represents the solitude functions. The solitude functions are arranged from top to bottom in descending order of mean importance ratings.

FIGURE 5

Illustration of a missing variance component due to idiosyncratic solitude priorities (Kodapanakkal et al., 2021). The x‐axis represents different solitude functions, the y‐axis represents perceived importance ratings, and the colored lines represent different individuals. All data are hypothetical.

FIGURE 6

Variation in perceived importance of solitude across solitude functions (preregistered study). The x‐axis represents the 22 solitude functions and the y‐axis represents participants’ importance ratings. The colored lines represent different individuals randomly selected from the sample. The solitude functions are arranged from left to right in descending order of mean importance ratings. Overall, we observed that (a) there was variation across the solitude functions (i.e., some functions were more valued than others); (b) there was variation across individuals (e.g., participant 286 valued solitude more than participant 86); and (c) people have idiosyncratic solitude priorities (i.e., people value different solitude functions differently).

FIGURE 7

ICC by component (preregistered study).

FIGURE 8

Model comparison p‐values (preregistered study). We compared whether or not a model including a Big Five personality dimension explained more variation in each of the 22 importance ratings compared to a model without the given dimension. Model comparison p‐values are adjusted for multiple testing. Adjusted p‐values are visualized, with darker colors corresponding to smaller p‐values. p‐values that are larger than the alpha level (.05) are not visible (i.e., in color white). The x‐axis represents the personality dimensions and the y‐axis represents the solitude functions. The solitude functions are arranged from top to bottom in descending order of mean importance ratings.

FIGURE 9

Unstandardized estimates of the Big Five dimensions (preregistered study). For each of the 22 solitude ratings and each personality dimension, we fitted models with predictors including the demographic/background variables and one personality dimension. The unstandardized estimates of the personality dimensions are visualized, with darker colors corresponding to larger estimates. Positive estimates are in the color red, and negative estimates are in the color blue. Black boarders indicate significant model‐comparison p‐values (see Figure 8 for p‐values). The x‐axis represents the personality dimensions and the y‐axis represents the solitude functions. The solitude functions are arranged from top to bottom in descending order of mean importance ratings.