Disconnected Lives: Trends in Time Spent Alone in Finland
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Level 4 by design analogy (repeated cross-sectional survey analysis).
OpenAlex W3010766748 · doi:10.1007/s11205-020-02304-z
What was done
The authors analyzed data from three nationally representative Finnish Time Use Surveys spanning three periods: 1987–1988 (n = 1,887), 1999–2000 (n = 2,673), and 2009–2010 (n = 1,887). They examined trends in social isolation, operationalized as daily time spent alone, and evaluated associations with demographic shifts and technology-related leisure activities.
What was found
Between 1987 and 2010, daily time spent alone increased by 124 minutes per day. The increase followed a linear trend and appeared across nearly all population subgroups. Aging and the growth of single-person households were strongly associated with this increase. The rise in solitary time occurred especially during leisure, with television viewing and computer use specifically associated with a decline in face-to-face interaction.
Why it matters
This study provides objective, long-term empirical evidence of a substantial shift toward solitary living and leisure in a Western population over a 20-year span. It quantitatively links demographic changes and screen-based media use to reduced face-to-face social contact.
Limits
The study uses repeated cross-sectional surveys rather than a longitudinal cohort tracking the same individuals over time. Time spent alone is used as a proxy for social isolation and does not measure subjective feelings of loneliness or the emotional quality of interactions. The data ends in 2010, missing major developments in modern smartphone and social media adoption, and findings may not generalize outside Finland.
Cited by
- supports Demographic trends show an increasing proportion of people living alone and having fewer close social contacts.