TY - JOUR
AU - Mann, Ajit Singh
AU - Boeder, Jordan
AU - Tse, Dwight C. K.
AU - Graham, Laura
AU - Nakamura, Jeanne
PY - 2022
DA - March
TI - Solitary prosociality in later life: an experience sampling study
JO - Research on Aging
DO - https://doi.org/10.1177/01640275211062124
AB - Loneliness is a risk factor for older adults, one exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although time spent alone is associated with both loneliness and greater well-being, the experience of solitude may depend on the type of activity pursued. We examined formal prosocial activity as one facilitator of positive solitary experiences. Older adults ( N = 165, Mage = 71.13, SD = 5.70) highly committed to prosocial-program work (e.g., tutoring) filled out surveys at six random times every day for a week. Using multilevel modeling, we investigated whether participating in prosocial-program activity alone was associated with greater well-being compared to other solitary activity. While prosocial-program activity did not buffer against negative affect in solitude, it promoted positive affect and relatedness when alone. To the extent that prosocial-program work can facilitate positive solitary experiences by enhancing feelings of connection, it may protect against threats to well-being posed by loneliness in later life.
PB - SAGE Publications
UR - https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/80096/
KW - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
KW - Older people
KW - Voluntary sector
ER