People for whom loneliness is mortally dangerous have been named

Australian psychologists have found that a person's attachment style fundamentally changes their attitude toward solitude: people with anxious or avoidant attachment types much more often perceive time alone as unwanted and forced, and therefore suffer more acutely from social isolation. The results of a study involving 548 adults have been published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships (JSPR).

Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby in the mid-20th century, identifies three main styles: secure — when a person feels comfortable both in closeness and in solitude, anxious — with a tendency toward excessive preoccupation with relationships, and avoidant — with pronounced discomfort from emotional intimacy. The style is established in early childhood and depends on the nature of interaction with the primary caregiver.

The researchers distinguished between two fundamentally different types of experiencing solitude. The first is voluntary solitude, intentionally chosen for rest, self-discovery, or creativity. The second is involuntary loneliness, perceived as an unwanted absence of social contact. Participants completed a battery of standardized questionnaires: an attachment style scale, a subjective experience of solitude questionnaire, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale for assessing chronic loneliness.

Statistical analysis demonstrated that anxious attachment reliably predicts a severe experience of loneliness. According to the authors, developing the skill of productive solitude — the ability to intentionally and enjoyably spend time without social interaction — may become an important therapeutic target and help reduce the chronic sense of isolation in people with an anxious attachment type.

The scientists also drew attention to the practical value of the obtained data for working with lonely individuals within the framework of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Sessions aimed at developing skills of mindful and voluntary solitude — the so-called capacity for solitude — can significantly alleviate the chronic sense of isolation in people with insecure attachment.