Abstract
Rethinking Aloneness: Exploring the Spectrum from Loneliness to Solitude to Connection
Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings, Vol.2026(1)
07/2026
DOI: 10.5465/AMPROC.2026.10909symposium
Abstract
The papers in this symposium explore two complementary aspects of social experience—social isolation and social connection. Together, this set of research illuminates that both social isolation and social connection can have ambivalent effects on employee well-being and work behaviors. The first paper examines the origins of entrepreneur loneliness fluctuations. The second paper demonstrates that lonely employees’ replay of negative workplace conversations undermines task performance, though specific temporal focuses can attenuate these effects. The third paper develops a conceptual model of work-specific solitude, highlighting its institutionalization as well as its impact. The fourth paper conceptualizes positive solitude as a leisure practice that promotes self-construal processes and, ultimately, self-focused work behaviors. The fifth paper reveals that quality time with partners simultaneously enhances mental health and reduces work engagement, producing mixed effects on employee effectiveness. Together, these papers advance a dynamic and integrative account of social isolation and connection, clarifying when being alone and being connected help or hinder functioning at work. This symposium emphasizes the importance of thoughtfully balancing solitary and interpersonal time.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Rethinking Aloneness: Exploring the Spectrum from Loneliness to Solitude to Connection
- Creators
- Jingran (Mia) Zhou - Purdue University West LafayetteRobert Chico - University of WashingtonOlivier D. Boncoeur - University of Notre DameIsaac Vaughn Dixon - University of Notre DameJune Shin - Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyJessica R. Methot - Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyRyan Fehr - University of WashingtonYu Tse Heng - McGuireWoodsDejun “Tony” KongKate Zipay - Purdue University West LafayetteSally Hedrick - Purdue University West LafayetteEsther (Yejoo) Lee - University of FloridaKlodiana Lanaj - University of FloridaDaniel Kim - University of IowaInoo Moon - University of Florida
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings, Vol.2026(1)
- DOI
- 10.5465/AMPROC.2026.10909symposium
- eISSN
- 2151-6561
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/2026
- Academic Unit
- Management and Entrepreneurship
- Record Identifier
- 9985214219602771
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