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Alone in a Crowd: Is Social Contact Associated with Less Psychological Pain of Loneliness in Everyday Life?

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  • Olga Stavrova

    (Tilburg University)

  • Dongning Ren

    (Tilburg University
    Emory University)

Abstract

People are often advised to engage in social contact to cope with the experience of loneliness and improve well-being. But are the moments of loneliness actually more bearable when spent in other people’s company? In this research, we proposed and tested two conflicting theoretical accounts regarding the role of social contact: social contact is associated with a stronger (the amplifying account) or with a weaker (the buffering account) negative effect of loneliness on psychological well-being. Analyses of three datasets collected using ecological momentary assessments (Nindividuals = 3,035) revealed that the negative association between loneliness and well-being was stronger when participants were with others than alone, consistent with the amplifying account. Further, when participants experienced high levels of loneliness, being with others was associated with the same or with even a lower level of well-being than being alone. These findings suggest that simply spending time with others (vs. alone) is not associated with a reduced burden of loneliness and may even backfire.

Suggested Citation

  • Olga Stavrova & Dongning Ren, 2023. "Alone in a Crowd: Is Social Contact Associated with Less Psychological Pain of Loneliness in Everyday Life?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 1841-1860, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:24:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1007_s10902-023-00661-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-023-00661-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pluut, Helen & Ilies, Remus & Curşeu, Petru L. & Liu, Yukun, 2018. "Social support at work and at home: Dual-buffering effects in the work-family conflict process," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 1-13.
    2. David Richter & Jürgen Schupp, 2015. "The SOEP Innovation Sample (SOEP IS)," Schmollers Jahrbuch : Journal of Applied Social Science Studies / Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 135(3), pages 389-400.
    3. Gert G. Wagner & Joachim R. Frick & Jürgen Schupp, 2007. "The German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) – Scope, Evolution and Enhancements," Schmollers Jahrbuch : Journal of Applied Social Science Studies / Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 127(1), pages 139-169.
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