Saying ‘good morning’ to strangers and chatting with people you don’t know gives you a major happiness boost, study finds
Proving the old adage that giving is the same as receiving, it turns out that greeting strangers with a simple “Good morning” and talking to people we don't know can increase our own happiness.
Following a survey of 60,000 people, including 40,000 Brits, researchers said: 'Temporary interactions, greeting and thanking, can boost well-being.' They suggest it works by increasing feelings of connection.
The team analyzed data from two groups who were asked about their interactions with people they did not know.
A study of 60,000 people, including 40,000 Britons, found that those who had more conversations with strangers enjoyed greater life satisfaction
The results, published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, showed that those who had more conversations with strangers enjoyed greater life satisfaction.
Study leader Dr Esra Ascigil, from Sabanci University in Turkey, said: 'A sense of belonging involves feeling accepted and valued by other people – it is often considered a basic human need.'
Kate Jopling, advisor to the Campaign To End Loneliness, said: 'These things help us feel like we belong. They cost so little, but are worth a lot.'