Authors: Thuy-vy Nguyen, Ellen Taylor-Bower, and Katie Yau.
Overview
When in solitude – a subjective state of being detached from immediate social demands –
societal norms and physical surroundings can continue to shape people’s thoughts and
feelings. This systematic review explored the roles of norms and the physical environment in
influencing individuals’ perceptions of being alone. Using specific keywords, we conducted
searches in Medline, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar for both published and
unpublished articles from between 1981 and 2021. We identified 157 papers that met the predetermined inclusion criteria and summarized statistics on study designs and sample
characteristics, before coding and organising themes into three sections. Firstly, norms
appeared to shape perceptions and experiences of solitude, as well as individuals’ coping
strategies for solitude. Factors influencing the acceptability of solitude include an individual’s
activities during solitude, their gender, and their current life stage. Secondly, the physical
environment can influence how solitude is perceived and experienced. Solitude is perceived
more positively in spaces with less social intrusion and fewer safety concerns, particularly for
women alone in public spaces. Finally, perceptions and experiences of solitude vary across
the lifespan. Solitude and solo experiences are typically portrayed as more maladaptive and
unfavourable earlier in life, while these experiences become more tolerable and enjoyable in
older age. Overall, findings from this review suggest that research into solitude should ensure
solitary experiences are viewed within the societal and physical contexts in which they occur.
Keywords: Solitude, solo experiences, norms, physical environment, lifespan
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