Experiential correlates of time alone in adolescence

Reed Larson, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Seven hundred and fifty-three observations were collected on 25 adolescents at random times during an average week. The observations consisted of self-reports completed in response to an electronic pager. The study was aimed at the question: What is the experience of time alone like for adolescents? The results suggest a complex but consistent relationship: while aloneness is generally a negative experience, those adolescents who spend a moderate amount of time alone (about 30 % of their waking time) tend to show better overall adjustment than adolescents who are either never alone or spend more than the optimal proportion of time alone. Alienation and average moods showed inverse linear or quadratic relationships with amount of time alone. These results are discussed in terms of the possible psychosocial functions of aloneness at the adolescent stage of the life cycle.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationApplications of Flow in Human Development and Education
Subtitle of host publicationThe Collected Works of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
PublisherSpringer
Pages255-269
Number of pages15
ISBN (Electronic)9789401790949
ISBN (Print)9401790930, 9789401790932
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2014
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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