Comparative Analysis of Gender and Age Differences in the Visions of Solitude

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Consideration of certain aspects of solitude, external and internal causes of its origin, the role of situational factor in the individual context of experience, etc. represents a necessary and methodologically justified stage of research. Methods: We used the methods of theoretical analysis of the psychological phenomenon of solitude study trends thereby building a unique prospect of its integral perception. Theoretical provisions were confirmed by the experimental results obtained during the analysis of the problems of solitude in the general humanitarian aspect in certain groups of population with account of gender, age and social differences. Findings: In total, among all studied age groups of persons with high degree of social isolation, a considerable prevalence of family problems was distinguished in the structure of the leading reasons of solitude for women, whereas job and personal are typical of men, which completely corresponds to the theoretic provisions of the research and results of other works. The main difference in the vision of the solitude causes in the population under study and results obtained in the group of socially isolated persons was the excessive frequency of diseases and personal problems, and relative decrease of job and family problems. The provided data indicate, first and foremost, the existence of a considerable dynamics in a subjective feeling of solitude in the process of human life. Applications: Distinguishing the causes of solitude and their comparative analysis taking into consideration gender, age and social differences are aimed at improving lifestyle attitudes at the individual level and in society as a whole.