Predictors of affect across social contexts: An integration of existing diary datasets

Abstract

Abstract Daily life is characterized by periods of complete and public solitude, face‐to‐face interactions and digitally mediated interactions when alone or with others, all of which elicit varying degrees and different types of affect. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of affect during these distinct everyday contexts. By combining data from 11 distinct datasets, we examined how time spent in complete solitude (not interacting and with no‐one around), digitally mediated interactions when alone, public solitude (not interacting but with others present), interacting face‐to‐face and digitally mediated interactions when with others, as well as individual differences in age and extraversion, were associated with four types of affect distinguished on two dimensions (arousal and valence) and loneliness. Results showed that prior face‐to‐face interactions were associated with increased high‐arousal positive affect and decreased low‐arousal positive affect. This research offers nuanced insights into how social and solitary contexts, personality and age contribute to everyday affective experiences.