Rethinking Solitude: Why Introversion Isn’t the Key to Enjoying Time Alone
It’s a widely held belief that introverts are the ones who genuinely enjoy spending time alone, while others merely tolerate solitude out of necessity or circumstance. However, a 2022 study published in PLOS ONE challenges this assumption head-on. Conducted by psychologist Thuy-vy Nguyen and co-creator of self-determination theory Richard Ryan, the research provides compelling evidence that introversion does not predict either a preference for solitude or enjoyment derived from it.
The study involved two separate diary studies where university students completed personality assessments and then recorded their daily experiences of being alone over a full week. Crucially, the researchers distinguished between two often conflated concepts: preference for solitude (a desire to spend time alone rather than with others) and self-determined motivation for solitude (finding time alone genuinely enjoyable and meaningful). Surprisingly, introversion—measured using the widely accepted Big Five personality framework—did not correlate with either preference or enjoyment of solitude.
While the sample was limited to university students, the study’s methodology, which tracked real-time daily experiences rather than relying on one-off surveys or retrospective self-reports, lends considerable weight to its findings. This approach reduces bias and makes the null association between introversion and solitude enjoyment difficult to dismiss as a statistical anomaly.
The Trait That Actually Predicts Enjoying Solitude
So if not introversion, what personality trait predicts whether someone finds solitude rewarding? The answer is dispositional autonomy, a concept rooted in self-determination theory. Dispositional autonomy refers to a person’s general tendency to act from internal values and genuine interest rather than from external pressure or internal compulsion. Individuals high in dispositional autonomy consistently reported greater enjoyment and meaningfulness during alone time across both studies.
Interestingly, dispositional autonomy did not predict a simple preference for solitude but specifically whether solitude was experienced positively. This subtle but important distinction reframes our understanding of what “enjoying solitude” truly depends on. Instead of being a matter of introversion versus extraversion or sociability versus shyness, it hinges on whether solitude is chosen freely and aligns with internal motivations, rather than being a default state, a form of avoidance, or an imposed obligation.
Understanding Dispositional Autonomy
Dispositional autonomy emerges from self-determination theory, developed by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan. The theory differentiates between autonomous behavior—actions taken because they reflect one’s true interests and values—and controlled behavior, which occurs due to external demands, guilt, or pressure. Dispositional autonomy captures this tendency as a general personality trait: some individuals habitually make choices that align with their authentic selves across many areas of life.
The 2022 study’s key insight is that enjoying solitude reflects this broader capacity for autonomous self-regulation. When someone high in dispositional autonomy opts to spend time alone, they are exercising the same internal congruence that governs other meaningful choices, rather than relying on a solitude-specific personality trait. This suggests that the capacity to find solitude rewarding is less about who you are inherently (introvert or extravert) and more about how you relate to your choices.
Implications for Remote and Solo-Focused Work Environments
These findings have important practical implications, especially as remote work and solo-focused tasks become increasingly common in knowledge-based industries. Employers and team leaders often assume that introverted employees will thrive in solitary work settings, but this research suggests otherwise. The key to making solo work restorative and engaging lies not in personality labels but in whether individuals experience genuine autonomy over their work.
Mandating quiet, heads-down work periods without offering choice may not foster the calm, focused experience expected. Instead, policies that empower employees to decide when and how they undertake solo work align with dispositional autonomy, the trait shown to predict enjoyment of solitude. This autonomy-supportive approach can enhance motivation and well-being, regardless of whether employees identify as introverted or extraverted.
Limitations and Ongoing Questions
It’s important to note that the study’s participants were university students, a demographic that may differ significantly from older adults or full-time employees in terms of lifestyle, responsibilities, and work environments. Furthermore, the research focused on short-term daily experiences over one week rather than long-term wellbeing or outcomes. It also cannot establish causality—whether dispositional autonomy causes greater enjoyment of solitude or merely coexists with it.
Moreover, the broader literature on social traits and solitude is complex and evolving. For example, other diary studies indicate that extraverts tend to experience more positive emotions overall, whether alone or socially engaged, highlighting that enjoyment of solitude and overall mood are distinct constructs. Nevertheless, this 2022 study provides a focused and data-driven challenge to the widespread belief that introversion is the defining factor in who enjoys solitude.
For a deeper dive into this fascinating topic, the full study and related analyses can be explored here.
