Hiking alone in a remote forest and experiencing deep solitude may not rejuvenate you or boost your social connections as effectively as more moderate forms of solitude, like reading at a café or listening to Spotify during your commute, according to research from Oregon State University.
Experiencing solitude, such as hiking alone in a forest, may not be as effective at restoring energy and fostering social connections as more moderate forms of solitude, like reading in a café or listening to music during your commute, according to a study from Oregon State University.
This research is significant because solitude plays a role in creating social ties, which are crucial for overall health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that strong social connections are related to a longer life, improved mental health, and a reduced risk of serious health issues like heart disease, stroke, and dementia.
Morgan Quinn Ross, an assistant professor at OSU’s College of Liberal Arts, and Scott Campbell from Ohio State University surveyed nearly 900 adults in the U.S. Their findings indicate that activities providing less intense solitude, such as playing phone games or going to the movies alone, have distinct advantages over being completely alone in a remote area or writing in an isolated cabin.
“We discovered that less intense solitude is better for restoring energy and maintaining connections with others,” Ross explained. “In a digital age where social interaction is often just a click away, it’s vital to balance social engagements with various types of solitude.”
Ross and Campbell also looked at how solitude can be influenced by people and technology; they found that being able to connect with others and engaging with media could transform solitude into a more social experience.
They created a solitude matrix that outlines levels of solitude, ranging from a situation with no social interaction to total solitude, where one is completely disconnected from others and media. This framework helped them explore the balance between solitude and social interaction—does more complete solitude enhance restoration, while less complete solitude improves a feeling of connection?
Ross pointed out an interesting theory, Communicate Bond Belong, which suggests that social interactions can foster connections but may drain social energy, while solitude can recharge energy but reduce feelings of connectedness. Social energy can be compared to a battery that may be fully charged, partially charged, or drained.
“Our research indicates that solitude isn’t merely the opposite of social interaction,” Ross stated. “While engaging deeply socially can create connections but deplete energy, more profound solitude drains both energy and connection. Solitude doesn’t serve just to replenish energy lost during socializing.”
The researchers found that solitude had less negative impact on well-being for individuals who believed it helped them recharge and maintain connections, regardless of the social energy cost of their interactions.
Interestingly, these conclusions generally apply to both extroverts and introverts, according to Ross, who suggested that people might benefit from seeking solitude when they have positive reasons for doing so.
“If you view solitude positively, because you utilize it for energy restoration and know you can connect with others later, then choosing solitude is likely to enhance your mood,” he said. “On the other hand, if you opt for solitude due to a negative perception of social interactions—because you want to avoid talking to others—it could lead to feeling worse.”
The findings were published in PLOS One.
