Reframing Time Spent Alone: Reappraisal Buffers the Emotional Effects of Isolation
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Reframing Time Spent Alone: Reappraisal Buffers the Emotional Effects of Isolation Micaela Rodriguez1,2 · Benjamin W. Bellet1 · Richard J. McNally1
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Background Loneliness, a transdiagnostic feature of psychopathology, is an experience of perceived isolation only weakly linked to the amount of time spent alone. Although traditional loneliness interventions aim to increase social contact, targeting maladaptive cognition about time alone may be an effective way to reduce loneliness. We investigated whether a brief reappraisal manipulation enables individuals to experience their time alone more positively. We also tested the impact of trait loneliness, compulsive social media use, and trait reappraisal on experiences of time alone. Methods College students and community members (N = 220) were randomly assigned to read a passage about the benefits of solitude (n = 74), the true prevalence of loneliness (n = 72), or a control topic (n = 74). Participants then sat alone for 10 min. Results Across conditions, positive and negative mood significantly decreased after sitting alone. Participants who read about the benefits of solitude experienced a smaller reduction in positive mood than those in the control condition. Participants who less frequently used reappraisal in their everyday lives benefited most from the manipulation. Conclusions Our results provide preliminary evidence that reappraising time alone as solitude may boost resilience to the decrements in positive mood associated with time alone. Limitations, clinical implications, and directions for future research are discussed. Keywords Loneliness · Solitude · Reappraisal · Alone time · Emotion
Introduction Again and again, U.S media headlines warn us of a “loneliness epidemic” that is plaguing our nation (Brooks 2018). Self-reported loneliness levels are higher today than they have ever been (Jeste et al. 2020): Half of Americans either sometimes or always feel lonely, and 25% experience chronic loneliness (Cigna 2018; Hawkley and Cacioppo 2010). Further, social distancing measures enacted in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have amplified concerns about loneliness even further in the
* Micaela Rodriguez [email protected] 1
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
Present Address: New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York 10032, NY, USA
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population at large (Banerjee and Rai 2020; Fiorillo and Gorwood 2020). As robust evidence shows, the adverse effects of loneliness on our health are alarming. Loneliness is a transdiagnostic psychiatric risk factor linked to elevated depression severity (Cacioppo et al. 2006), suicidal ideation (Stravynski and Boyer 2001), and social anxiety (Lim et al. 2016). Loneliness has been found to accelerate cognitive decline (Tilvis et al. 2004
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