New Study Reveals Relationship Between Loneliness and Aloneness
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona has shed light on the complex relationship between feeling lonely and actually being alone. The study identified that loneliness sets in when individuals spend over 75% of their time in solitude. In particular, older adults experience a strong correlation between loneliness and being alone.
To better understand and quantify social behavior, the research team is in the process of developing a smartwatch app called SocialBit, similar to fitness trackers. This app aims to track social activity by measuring the number of minutes spent in conversation per day.
According to the study published in the Journal of Research in Personality, loneliness becomes pronounced when individuals spend more than three-quarters of their time alone. In older adults above the age of 67, there is a particularly strong association between time spent alone and feelings of loneliness, with a 25% overlap.
David Sbarra, a UArizona professor of psychology and a senior author on the paper, explained that as people get older, their social network tends to shrink, making it harder for them to spend time with others. Loneliness is strongly connected with being socially isolated among adults over the age of 68.
The study utilized the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) app to assess daily social behaviors. This smartphone app recorded participants’ sounds in 30-second intervals every 12 minutes. The EAR app provided useful data to characterize time spent alone.
Mehl, a UArizona psychology professor and senior author of the study, stated that EAR is an exciting new method for assessing time spent alone. However, it is time-consuming for researchers to analyze the data. To address this, Mehl and his team are developing the SocialBit app, which will run on a smartwatch and measure social activity by tracking conversation minutes per day.
The study involved over 400 participants, and the results showed that individuals who spent more than 75% of their time alone felt the most lonely. In younger people, feeling lonely and being alone are two separate experiences. They may still feel lonely in a crowd or not feel lonely when alone. However, for older adults, being with others and socializing is crucial to combat feelings of loneliness.
The development of the SocialBit app aims to facilitate more social connections by providing individuals with a tool to measure their social activity accurately. The app is expected to be rolled out in the next few years and may have applications in assisting stroke patients during their recovery, as social isolation is known to be significant for stroke survivors.
Overall, the study highlights the need to distinguish between loneliness and aloneness and emphasizes the importance of social connections for human health. With the development of innovative technologies like SocialBit, individuals may be able to track and improve their social activity to combat feelings of loneliness.
Reference:
University of Arizona. (2021, September 27). Study shows nuanced relationship between loneliness, being alone. Neuroscience News. https://neurosciencenews.com/loneliness-being-alone-20042/