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Embracing me-time: Motivation for solitude during transition to college

Nguyen, Thuy-vy T.; Werner, Kaitlyn M.; Soenens, Bart

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Authors

Kaitlyn M. Werner

Bart Soenens



Abstract

The present research examined the role of university students’ motivation for spending time alone in their adjustment to college life, as well as the parenting correlates of students’ healthy motivation for solitude. Two studies were conducted on first-year college students in the United States (n = 147) and Canada (n = 223). In Study 1, data was collected at three different time points, separated by two-week intervals. In Study 2, data was collected at two different time points, separated by a month. The results revealed that, for those who reported perceiving lower social belonging, approaching solitary time for autonomous reasons was linked to greater self-esteem (Study 1), and greater sense of relatedness to others and lower loneliness (Study 2). These findings suggest that endorsing a healthy motivation for solitude is not necessarily indicative of social ill-being. Additionally, students’ autonomous motivation for spending time alone was associated with having parents that are autonomy supportive and that promote a sense of independence.

Citation

Nguyen, T. T., Werner, K. M., & Soenens, B. (2019). Embracing me-time: Motivation for solitude during transition to college. Motivation and Emotion, 43(4), 571-591. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-019-09759-9

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Mar 1, 2019
Publication Date Aug 31, 2019
Deposit Date Oct 1, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 1, 2020
Journal Motivation and Emotion
Print ISSN 0146-7239
Electronic ISSN 1573-6644
Publisher Springer
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 43
Issue 4
Pages 571-591
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-019-09759-9

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