Just saying “hello” to strangers can increase our happiness levels.
- To combat loneliness, which is “a global public health problem” according to the WHO, all you need to do is greet strangers.
- In the study, having conversations with strangers led to greater life satisfaction.
- Social interactions with strangers could provoke a feeling of belonging.
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that loneliness was “a global public health problem”. It is linked to high rates of social isolation seen in most modern Western societies. Adults tend to keep to themselves and only talk to people they already know. But, according to researchers at Sabanci University (Turkey), minimal social interactions, namely the simple act of greeting or thanking strangers, can promote our development.
Greeting strangers increases life satisfaction
To reach this conclusion, scientists carried out a study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. The team sent a questionnaire to members of the Turkish and British population. When filling it out, they had to talk about their recent momentary interactions, or even conversations, with strangers. Each volunteer also had to rate their level of life satisfaction or general happiness level. For the first survey, the authors received 3,666 responses and for the second, 60,141.
According to the results, participants who reported having momentary interactions with or conversations with strangers tended to report being more satisfied with their lives or happier than those who kept a low profile and avoided talking to strangers. So, saying “hello” or thanking someone you don’t know can increase your level of happiness.
Solitude: minimal social interactions cause a feeling of belonging
Researchers have suggested that regularly interacting with strangers can bring about a sense of community, which can make people feel more accepted and even valued. It is this feeling that helps adults feel satisfied with their lives and reduce loneliness.
As a reminder, loneliness is associated with cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression and even anxiety. “Lack of social connections leads to a risk of early death equal to or greater than other better-known risk factors, such as smoking, alcohol abuse, physical inactivity, obesity and pollution air”, said the WHO.
