Solitude is Good? Positive Solitude, Peer Interaction, and Psychosocial Adjustment in Later Childhood

Jianping Ma ()
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Jianping Ma: Shandong Normal University

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2025, vol. 26, issue 5, No 12, 18 pages

Abstract: Abstract This study explored the association between the balance of positive solitude-peer interactions and psychosocial adjustment. A total of 554 children (Mage = 10.56, SD = 0.84, 58.3% boys) participated in this three-wave study with a six-month lag. They completed questionnaires that assessed positive solitude, relational aggression, relational victimization, depression, and life satisfaction in three waves at approximately six months intervals. Cross-lagged panel analysis revealed that peer interactions (relational victimization and aggression) and depression significantly predicted reductions in positive solitude over time. In contrast, positive solitude demonstrated a bidirectional relationship with life satisfaction, resulting in a reinforcing developmental cycle. These findings underscore the role of negative peer interactions and depression as a precursor to diminished solitude experiences. More importantly, they highlight the protective function of positive solitude in promoting life satisfaction.

Keywords: Positive solitude; Relational aggression; Relational victimization; Depression; Life satisfaction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-025-00908-1

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