Engaging in meaningful social interactions with peers is associated with lower loneliness and greater affective well-being, new research finds. Researchers followed three cohorts of university students over three years, collecting data on their social interactions and momentary well-being. Prior research has focused on the impacts of social interactions and the contexts in which interactions occur, such as places and activities.
However, the new research specifically examines the impact of meaningful interactions on well-being. Our research indicates that engaging in meaningful social interactions have net positive outcomes for affective well-being, stress, and loneliness. Spending more time in substantive and deep conversations with anyone with either strong or weak ties, results in benefits for the average person's wellbeing outcomes.
" Mahnaz Roshanaei, lead author of Stanford University However, the study also reveals that the context in which these interactions occur plays a role. Researchers also noted that, while the COVID-19 pandemic wasn't a main focus, there was a shift in the impact of context during lockdowns. Before the pandemic, the setting of social interactions mattered more for well-being.
During the quarantine, however, social interactions tended to have a positive impact on well-being whether they happened online or elsewhere. The researchers acknowledge limitations in their study, namely that it focused on university students and may not be generalizable to.