The consequences of solitude depend on one’s preference and motivations for solitude, some of which correlate with high psychological risks (e.g., loneliness, depression) with others relating to low risk or benefits. When life is suffused with stress, people are used to escaping and seeking solitude time for restoration, which is especially true for established adults who are burdened with the heaviest care responsibilities and work stress. However, little is known about the development of preference and motivations for solitude in established adulthood. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the level of preference and motivations for solitude and their potential antecedents and consequences in established (aged 30–45) adulthood as compared to emerging (aged 18–29) and midlife adulthood (aged 46–64). We recruited 465 young to middle-aged adults from MTurk and an undergraduate class (Fall 2019). Preference and motivations for solitude were measured with the Preference for Solitude Scale and the Motivation for Solitude Scale-Short Form. Well-being and social measures were included as potential consequences and sociodemographic, psychological, and physical measures as potential antecedents. Results showed that both preference for solitude and controlled motivation peaked in established adulthood. Same as adjacent adulthood phases, in established adulthood (a) preference for solitude related to mildly compromised well-being, (b) controlled motivation was robustly associated with worse well-being, and (c) self-determined motivation was consistently associated with better well-being. Antecedences for preference and motivations for solitude showed distinctiveness for each adulthood phase. Future interventions on well-being should focus on controlled motivation for solitude and established adults.

独处的后果取决于一个人对独处的偏好和动机，其中一些与高心理风险（如孤独、抑郁）相关，而另一些与低风险或益处相关。当生活充满压力时，人们习惯于逃避和寻求独处的时间来恢复，对于背负着最沉重的护理责任和工作压力的成熟成年人来说尤其如此。然而，对于成熟的成年期独处的偏好和动机的发展知之甚少。因此，在这项研究中，我们调查了成熟（30-45 岁）成年期与新兴（18-29 岁）和中年期（46-64 岁）相比，独处的偏好和动机水平及其潜在的前因和后果. 我们从 MTurk 和一个本科班（2019 年秋季）招募了 465 名中青年。孤独的偏好和动机是用孤独量表的偏好和孤独量表的动机短表来衡量的。福祉和社会指标被列为潜在后果，社会人口、心理和身体指标被列为潜在前因。结果表明，对独处的偏好和受控的动机在成熟的成年期都达到了顶峰。与相邻的成年期相同，在成熟的成年期（a）偏爱与轻度受损的幸福感相关的独处，（b）受控制的动机与较差的幸福感密切相关，（c）自我决定的动机始终与更好的幸福感相关福利。偏爱和独处动机的前因在每个成年阶段都表现出独特性。未来对幸福的干预应侧重于控制独处和成熟成年人的动机。