Pauly Theresa, Lay Jennifer C, Nater Urs M, Scott Stacey B, Hoppmann Christiane A
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
Gerontology. 2017;63(1):55-66. doi: 10.1159/000450608. Epub 2016 Oct 20.
Spending time alone constitutes a ubiquitous part of our everyday lives. As we get older, alone time increases. Less is known, however, about age differences in the experience of spending time alone (momentary solitude).
We examined time-varying associations between momentary solitude, affect quality, and two hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity markers [salivary cortisol; dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAs)] to better understand the affective and biological correlates of momentary solitude across the adult life span.
A total of 185 adults aged 20-81 years (mean age = 49 years, 51% female, 74% Caucasian) completed questionnaires on momentary solitude (alone vs. not alone) and current affect on a handheld device, and provided concurrent saliva samples up to seven times a day for 10 consecutive days. Data were analyzed using multilevel models, controlling for the overall amount of time participants spent alone during the study (overall solitude).
Greater overall solitude was associated with decreased average high arousal positive affect and increased average cortisol and DHEAs levels. Momentary solitude was associated with reduced high arousal positive affect, increased low arousal positive affect, and increased low arousal negative affect. Age by momentary solitude interactions indicate that greater age was associated with increased high arousal positive affect and reduced low arousal negative affect during momentary solitude. Furthermore, momentary solitude was associated with increased cortisol and DHEAs. With greater age, the association between momentary solitude and cortisol weakened.
Consistent with the negative connotations to loneliness and objective social isolation, greater overall solitude was associated with negative affective and biological correlates. Spending a large overall amount of time alone in old age might thus have negative ramifications for health and well-being. Momentary solitude, in contrast, can be a double-edged sword as evidenced by both positive and negative well-being implications. Importantly, greater age is linked to more favorable affective and biological correlates of momentary solitude. The momentary state of spending time alone is thus an experience that is not necessarily negative and that may improve with aging.
独处是我们日常生活中普遍存在的一部分。随着年龄的增长，独处时间会增加。然而，对于独处体验（即时孤独感）的年龄差异，我们了解得较少。
我们研究了即时孤独感、情感质量与两种下丘脑 - 垂体 - 肾上腺轴活动标志物[唾液皮质醇；硫酸脱氢表雄酮（DHEAs）]之间随时间变化的关联，以更好地理解成年期即时孤独感的情感和生物学相关性。
共有185名年龄在20 - 81岁之间的成年人（平均年龄 = 49岁，51%为女性，74%为白种人）通过手持设备完成了关于即时孤独感（独处与非独处）和当前情感的问卷，并连续10天每天最多提供7次同步唾液样本。使用多层次模型对数据进行分析，同时控制参与者在研究期间独处的总时长（总体孤独感）。
更高的总体孤独感与平均高唤醒积极情感的降低以及平均皮质醇和DHEAs水平的升高相关。即时孤独感与高唤醒积极情感的降低、低唤醒积极情感的增加以及低唤醒消极情感的增加相关。年龄与即时孤独感的交互作用表明，年龄越大，在即时孤独感期间高唤醒积极情感增加，低唤醒消极情感减少。此外，即时孤独感与皮质醇和DHEAs的增加相关。随着年龄的增长，即时孤独感与皮质醇之间的关联减弱。
与孤独和客观社会隔离的负面含义一致，更高的总体孤独感与负面的情感和生物学相关性相关。因此，老年时大量的总体独处时间可能对健康和幸福产生负面影响。相比之下，即时孤独感可能是一把双刃剑，这在积极和消极的幸福感影响中都有体现。重要的是，年龄越大，即时孤独感的情感和生物学相关性越有利。因此，独处的即时状态不一定是负面的，并且可能会随着年龄增长而改善。
