Relational Structure Between Places for Spending Time by Oneself in Daily Living Areas and Social Isolation-and Loneliness-Related Indicators

To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the structural relationship between positive solitude and the availability of places for spending time alone within daily living areas. Using a nationwide web survey of 2,301 adults in Japan, it explores, in an exploratory manner, how the variety of such places relates to social isolation, loneliness, and positive solitude. A wider variety is associated with a larger social network and higher positive solitude, most stably for the latter. Its association with loneliness was weaker and did not indicate that such places directly reduce loneliness.