Small Talk, Big Impact

The Study: In 2014, researcher Gillian Sandstrom, Ph.D., asked participants to carry two clickers. On one, they counted interactions with strong ties such as family, friends, and coworkers. On the other, they tracked encounters with “weak ties,” meaning acquaintances and strangers. At the end of each day, participants reported how happy and connected they felt.

The Takeaway: The more people interacted with weak ties, including the friendly bartender or the chatty stranger at Costco, the happier and more connected they felt. On days with more of these small exchanges, participants reported a greater sense of belonging than on days with fewer.

Keep in Mind: Those seemingly trivial interactions aren’t so trivial after all. When you’re choosing between going out or staying in, a little low-stakes social contact might do more for your mood than you think.