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Disconnected Lives: Trends in Time Spent Alone in Finland

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  • Timo Anttila

    (University of Jyväskylä)

  • Kirsikka Selander

    (University of Jyväskylä)

  • Tomi Oinas

    (University of Jyväskylä)

Abstract

Discussions about social isolation have been extensive over the past few decades. A less sociable nature of social ties has been identified in Western societies. The phenomenon has been associated with demographic changes such as aging and living alone as well as changes in the use of new technologies. In this study we employ representative Finnish Time Use Surveys from three decades, 1987–1988 (n = 1887), 1999–2000 (n = 2673) and 2009–2010 (n = 1887) to examine the trends in social isolation, measured as time spent alone. Our results showed that between 1987 and 2010 the time spent alone increased by 124 min per day. The increase was linear and occurred in nearly all population groups. Structural factors, such as aging and an increase in the number of single households, are strongly associated with increased time spent alone. Time spent alone has increased, especially during leisure activities. Specifically, time spent watching television and using computers is associated with the decreasing tendency for face-to-face interaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Timo Anttila & Kirsikka Selander & Tomi Oinas, 2020. "Disconnected Lives: Trends in Time Spent Alone in Finland," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 150(2), pages 711-730, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:150:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s11205-020-02304-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-020-02304-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tanskanen, J. & Anttila, T., 2016. "A prospective study of social isolation, loneliness, and mortality in Finland," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(11), pages 2042-2048.
    2. Jahoda,Marie, 1982. "Employment and Unemployment," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521285865, October.
    3. Klinenberg, E., 2016. "Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Living Alone: Identifying the Risks for Public Health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(5), pages 786-787.
    4. Strazdins, Lyndall & Korda, Rosemary J. & Lim, Lynette L-Y. & Broom, Dorothy H. & D'Souza, Rennie M., 2004. "Around-the-clock: parent work schedules and children's well-being in a 24-h economy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(7), pages 1517-1527, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. R. Gordon Rinderknecht & Daniela V. Negraia & Sophie Lohmann & Emilio Zagheni, 2023. "Understanding the growth of solitary leisure in the U.S., 1965 – 2018," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2023-025, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    2. Enghin Atalay, 2024. "A twenty-first century of solitude? Time alone and together in the United States," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(1), pages 1-33, March.
    3. Tytti P. Pasanen & Nina Tamminen & Tuija Martelin & Pia Solin, 2021. "Positive Mental Health of Finnish People Living Alone: The Role of Circumstantial Factors and Leisure-Time Activities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-15, June.

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