Every conversation counts toward feeling connected
In a week of everyday life, people who had more conversations tended to feel happier and more connected.
Over a week of everyday life, people who had more conversations tended to feel happier and more connected.
The study
For a week, 256 participants wore a small audio recorder that sampled sounds from their day and reported several times daily on their social interactions, happiness, and connection. Observers also rated their interactions from the recordings. Having more social interactions was consistently linked with greater well-being, both in the moment and on average. Deeper conversations and knowing and liking the other person also tended to go with greater well-being. This was an observational study.
Starting small
Small conversations count. Building a little extra chat into the day, like a short call on a walk, is an easy place to begin.