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Positive Solitude: an Examination of Individuals Who Spend Frequent Time Alone

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Positive Solitude: an Examination of Individuals Who Spend Frequent Time Alone Positive Solitude: An Examination of Individuals Who Spend Frequent Time Alone by Jasmine Cady B.A, University of British Columbia, 2004 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in The Faculty of Graduate Studies (Counselling Psychology) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) October 2010 © Jasmine Cady 2010 Abstract An abundance of empirical research indicates that individuals who spend frequent time alone are less happy than those who are more socially active (Diener & Seligman, 2002). In mass media and popular culture these individuals are commonly referred to as “Loners.” The current study investigates if some individuals who spend frequent time alone report average or higher than average ratings of happiness despite the contradictory trend in research and the negative loner stereotype. The study also provides an empirical description of the loner construct by examining a group of self-declared loners. Five hundred and thirty eight subjects who reported spending frequent time alone completed the Subjective Happiness Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale (3), the Social Phobia Inventory, the E-scale of the EPQR-A, the Preference for Solitude Scale and the Relationship Questionnaire. It was found that unhappiness and poor well-being do not necessarily accompany spending frequent time alone, even for individuals who identify as loners. While the majority of participants who reported spending frequent time alone also reported poor levels of well-being, 21.7% of the study’s entire population as well as 20.6% of self-declared loners within that group reported average or high scores of happiness on the Subjective Happiness Scale. Furthermore, they did not report stereotypical symptoms such as high rates of loneliness or social phobia. In addition to challenging the prevailing loner stereotype, these results raise questions about the generalizability of the established correlation between spending frequent time alone and poor well-being. Theoretically relevant constructs such as loneliness, social phobia and extraversion will be discussed. Attention is called for a deeper and more balanced examination of individuals who spend frequent time alone. ii Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ..........................................................................................................iii List of Tables.................................................................................................................. v Acknowledgments......................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 Research Significance and Purpose.................................................................... 3 Research Questions ........................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2: Literature Review ........................................................................................ 5 Well-Being and Social Contact ......................................................................... 5 Social Phobia ..................................................................................................... 6 Loneliness .......................................................................................................... 7 Introversion-Extraversion .................................................................................. 8 Attachment ...................................................................................................... 11 Preference for Solitude .................................................................................... 12 Happiness and Positive Psychology ................................................................ 14 Conclusion and Hypotheses ............................................................................ 15 Chapter 3: Method........................................................................................................ 16 Survey Design ................................................................................................. 17 Participant Profile ............................................................................................ 18 Measures .......................................................................................................... 20 Data Analysis .................................................................................................. 26 Chapter 4: Results ....................................................................................................... 28 Defining the Sample ........................................................................................ 28 Happy Participants Who Spend Frequent Time Alone ................................... 29 Differences Between Happy and Not Happy Participants .............................. 29 Contributions of Variables .............................................................................. 36 Defining the Loner Construct .......................................................................... 37 Summary of Results ........................................................................................ 40 Chapter 5: Discussion................................................................................................... 42 Happy Participants Who Spend Frequent Time Alone ................................... 42 Differences Between Not Happy and Happy Participants .............................. 42 Contributions of Variables to Happiness ........................................................ 45 The Loner Construct ........................................................................................ 47 Implications ..................................................................................................... 50 Strengths of Study ........................................................................................... 51 iii Limitations ...................................................................................................... 52 Future Research ............................................................................................... 53 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 54 References .................................................................................................................... 56 Appendix A: Ethics Approval...................................................................................... 67 Appendix B: Consent Form ......................................................................................... 68 Appendix C: Demographics Questionnaire ................................................................. 70 Appendix D: Subjective Happiness Scale.................................................................... 71 Appendix E: UCLA Loneliness Scale ......................................................................... 72 Appendix F: Social Phobia Inventory .......................................................................... 73 Appendix G: EPQR-A.................................................................................................. 74 Appendix H: Preference for Solitude Scale ................................................................. 75 Appendix I: Relationship Questionnaire ...................................................................... 76 Appendix J: Additional Questionnaire......................................................................... 78 Appendix K: Additional Data ...................................................................................... 79 iv List of Tables Table 4.1 Intercorrelation Matrix ................................................................................. 30 Table 4.2 Means for Happy and Not Happy Participants ........................................... 31 Table 4.3 Group Differences in Attachment Style....................................................... 35 Table 4.4 Reasons for Seeking Solitude....................................................................... 36 Table 4.5 Contributions of Variables on Happiness .................................................... 37 Table 4.6 Means for Happy and Not Happy Self-Declared Loners ............................. 40 Table K.1 Additional Questions for Loners and Nonloners......................................... 81 v Acknowledgments This study was partially supported by the Faculty of Education Award. I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Beth Haverkamp for her guidance and support as well as my committee members, Dr. Marla Buchanan, Dr. Joe lucyshyn, and my external reader, Dr. Shelley Hymel. In addition, I express my gratitude to all the participants who gave their time to participate in this study. Finally, I would like to thank my parents, Bonnie and Fitch and my partner, Vincent. vi Chapter 1: Introduction The correlation between happiness and sociability is robust. Simply put, individuals who frequently engage with others are happier than those who spend significant time alone (Diener & Seligman, 2002). Studies repeatedly find that extraversion is the strongest personality predictor of happiness (Argyle & Lu, 1990) and that interpersonal relationships are more important in influencing happiness
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