What allays loneliness? A fine-grained examination of daily social interactions

Abstract

Loneliness is a rising global problem just as digital communication platforms have afforded people greater opportunities to interact. This paradox suggests that increased opportunities for social interactions may be insufficient for relieving loneliness. Using daily diary methodology, we examined how features of social interactions—type and perceived quality—predicted daily loneliness. Over 14 consecutive days, 269 adult participants provided 2986 daily reports on their loneliness levels, the types of daily social interactions they had, and the quality of these social interactions. Results indicated that in-person interactions most strongly predicted reduced loneliness relative to other interaction types. Interactions characterized by positive qualities were associated with lower same-day loneliness. In turn, interactions characterized by negative qualities were associated with higher same-day loneliness. Across all subjective qualities, feeling closed off and distant from others during interactions was the strongest predictor of same-day loneliness. These findings highlight that time spent socializing is not a panacea for reducing loneliness, and increasing in-person interactions and reducing negative social experiences may best foster social connection.