New research suggests that spending time alone in nature may help reduce loneliness, even though it seems counterintuitive. A study published in the journal Health and Place found that time spent on or near a lake was linked to lower loneliness. However, socializing was not the main reason. The strongest factors were a sense of connection to nature and emotional attachment to a specific place. People who did those activities alone reported an even stronger effect.
Researchers in Norway surveyed 2,544 residents who lived along the country’s largest lake. Participants reported how often they walked along the shore, swam, paddled, or fished, and how often they did these activities alone. The study measured loneliness in three ways. Connectedness to nature, defined as a sense of kinship with animals, plants, and the living world, showed the strongest association with reduced loneliness. Place attachment, specifically to the lake, was also linked to lower loneliness, especially the kind that comes from feeling disconnected from a broader community.
Not all activities had the same effect. Walking along the shore, enjoying life by the water, and walking on ice were most strongly tied to feeling connected to nature. Exercising along the shore had the weakest association. The researchers suggested this may be because attention is directed differently: activities that involve sensory noticing and aesthetic appreciation deepen the bond with nature, while exercise-focused activity tends not to.
The researchers explained that two types of connection may be at work. Internal connection comes from solitude, which gives mental space to turn attention outward toward the environment instead of toward conversation or distraction. That can support reflection, mental clarity, and emotional regulation. External connection comes from feeling emotionally bonded to a place, whether a lake, trail, or park bench. That creates a sense of belonging that does not depend on other people being present. The effect was stronger when people did lake activities alone because the absence of social interaction allows more room for a felt sense of oneness with nature.
The study distinguishes between solitude and isolation. Solitude is chosen, intentional time alone that feels restorative. Isolation is unwanted and involves a painful sense of being cut off from others. The researchers noted that both too much and too little time alone can be harmful. The finding does not mean isolating oneself in nature is a reliable path to well-being. Instead, it suggests that intentional solo time outdoors, while paying attention to surroundings, may help ease feelings of disconnection. The study is observational and cannot prove cause and effect; lonelier people may actively seek out nature to compensate for unmet social needs.
