Minimal Social Interactions with Strangers Predict Greater Subjective Well-Being

Past empirical work has repeatedly revealed that positive social interactions including expressing gratitude and socializing are associated with greater happiness. However, this work predominantly focused on prolonged interactions with close relationship partners. Only a few studies demonstrated hedonic benefits of forming social connections with strangers. The present research investigated whether minimal social interactions with strangers-just taking a moment to greet, thank, and express good wishes to strangers-contribute to happiness of individuals who initiate these interactions. Study 1 (N = 856) provided correlational evidence that commuters who reported engaging in minimal positive social interactions with shuttle drivers experienced greater subjective well-being (life satisfaction and positive affect). Moreover, hedonic benefits of positive social interactions went beyond relatively more neutral social interactions, Big-Five personality factors, and age, speaking to the robustness of the effect. Study 2 (N = 265) provided experimental evidence that commuters who greeted, thanked, or expressed good wishes to shuttle drivers experienced greater momentary positive affect than those who did not speak with drivers. These findings add to the burgeoning literature on hedonic benefits of interacting with strangers by showing that even very minimal social interactions with strangers contribute to subjective well-being in everyday life.

Automated summary

Past empirical work has repeatedly shown that positive social interactions contribute to greater happiness, and this study explores whether even minimal interactions with strangers can also have a significant impact on subjective well-being. The first study provided correlational evidence that engaging in minimal positive social interactions with shuttle drivers was associated with higher subjective well-being, while the second study provided experimental evidence that brief interactions with drivers led to greater momentary positive affect. These findings suggest that even small social interactions with strangers can contribute to happiness in everyday life.