Risks and Chances of Living Alone (RIKSCHA)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Franz Josef Neyer
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology ; Developmental and Educational Psychology
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 421146155

A growing number of people in Germany are living alone (16.4 million, corresponding to 20% of the population in 2016). Living alone is associated with risks as well as chances. On the one hand, individuals living alone are at risk of social isolation, while on the other hand they have the chance to fulfil themselves and to pursue individual life styles. The RIKSCHA project (Risks and Chances of Living Alone) aims to answer the question under which psychological conditions living alone may be adaptive. Thereby, we take into account that living alone is a complex life style. For example, individuals living alone may have a partner, can choose their life style permanently or temporarily, or live alone involuntarily. It is assumed that living alone can be associated with high levels of well-being, if basic social motives (for affiliation, intimacy, independence, and being alone) are satisfied appropriately in different relationship contexts such as family, friendship, and partnership (if present). RIKSCHA investigates a heterogeneous sample of middle aged participants (35 to 60 years) in a longitudinal study over the course of two years. On three measurement occasions participants will be interviewed regarding their social motives and personal relationships they entertain in their social networks. In addition, they will keep a social network diary over a period of three weeks to map the daily processes of relationship functioning. The project will contribute new insights into the very processes of personality and social network development in midlife, but will also provide answers to societal issues in times of accelerated demographic change and a growing number of people living alone.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Marcus Mund