Using Language to Test Developmental Differences in Attitudes toward Solitude in Adolescents and Emerging Adults
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| Title: | Using Language to Test Developmental Differences in Attitudes toward Solitude in Adolescents and Emerging Adults |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Tiffany Cheng (ORCID |
| Source: | Social Development. 2025 34(3). |
| Availability: | Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 11 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | High Schools Secondary Education Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Adolescents, Young Adults, Developmental Stages, Age Differences, Interpersonal Relationship, Language Usage, Emotional Response, Positive Attitudes, Negative Attitudes, Gender Differences, High School Students, Undergraduate Students, Foreign Countries, Individual Characteristics, Extraversion Introversion, Personality Traits |
| Geographic Terms: | Canada |
| DOI: | 10.1111/sode.70010 |
| ISSN: | 0961-205X 1467-9507 |
| Abstract: | The goal of this study was to assess developmental differences in adolescents' and emerging adults' attitudes toward solitude using three different methodologies. Participants were N = 1224 adolescents (n = 367, ages 15-18 years, M[subscript age] = 16.13, SD = 0.54; 65.7% female) and emerging adults (n = 857, aged 18-29 years, M[subscript age] = 19.75 years, SD = 2.28; 70.2% female). Participants completed a rating scale assessing explicit attitudes towards solitude. Linguistic indices of attitudes were also derived from participants' descriptions of someone who 'enjoys and values solitude', using both content analysis and sentiment analysis. Themes derived from a content analysis of these descriptions included 'Introvert', 'Ambivert', 'Neutral', 'Positive' and 'Negative'. Lexicon-based sentiment analysis was also completed to assess levels of valence, arousal and dominance in each description. Results indicate a complex set of inter-associations among methodological approaches to measuring attitudes toward solitude. However, across all three methodologies, emerging adults displayed more positive views of solitude than adolescents. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1478488 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The goal of this study was to assess developmental differences in adolescents' and emerging adults' attitudes toward solitude using three different methodologies. Participants were N = 1224 adolescents (n = 367, ages 15-18 years, M[subscript age] = 16.13, SD = 0.54; 65.7% female) and emerging adults (n = 857, aged 18-29 years, M[subscript age] = 19.75 years, SD = 2.28; 70.2% female). Participants completed a rating scale assessing explicit attitudes towards solitude. Linguistic indices of attitudes were also derived from participants' descriptions of someone who 'enjoys and values solitude', using both content analysis and sentiment analysis. Themes derived from a content analysis of these descriptions included 'Introvert', 'Ambivert', 'Neutral', 'Positive' and 'Negative'. Lexicon-based sentiment analysis was also completed to assess levels of valence, arousal and dominance in each description. Results indicate a complex set of inter-associations among methodological approaches to measuring attitudes toward solitude. However, across all three methodologies, emerging adults displayed more positive views of solitude than adolescents. |
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| ISSN: | 0961-205X 1467-9507 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/sode.70010 |
