Motivation and preference in isolation: a test of their different influences on responses to self-isolation during the COVID-19 outbreak

Weinstein, Netta; Nguyen, Thuy-Vy

Abstract

This multi-wave study examined the extent that both preference and motivation for time alone shapes ill-being during self-isolation. Individuals in the USA and the UK are self-isolating in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Different motivations may drive their self-isolation: some might see value in it (understood as the identified form of autonomous motivation), while others might feel forced into it by authorities or close others (family, friends, neighbourhoods, doctors; the external form of controlled motivation). People who typically prefer company will find themselves spending more time alone, and may experience ill-being uniformly, or as a function of their identified or external motivations for self-isolation. Self-isolation, therefore, offers a unique opportunity to distinguish two constructs coming from disparate literatures. This project examined preference and motivation (identified and external) for solitude, and tested their independent and interacting contributions to ill-being (loneliness, depression and anxiety during the time spent alone) across two weeks. Confirmatory hypotheses regarding preference and motivation were not supported by the data. A statistically significant effect of controlled motivation on change in ill-being was observed one week later, and preference predicted ill-being across two weeks. However, effect sizes for both were below our minimum threshold of interest.

Citation

Weinstein, N., & Nguyen, T.-V. (2020). Motivation and preference in isolation: a test of their different influences on responses to self-isolation during the COVID-19 outbreak. Royal Society Open Science, 7(5), Article 200458. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.200458

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 29, 2020
• Online Publication Date: May 13, 2020
• Publication Date: May 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: May 25, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: May 26, 2020
• Journal: Royal Society Open Science
• Publisher: The Royal Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 5
• Article Number: 200458
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.200458
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1269994