Social

Interac-ons and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties

Gillian M. Sandstrom, Elizabeth W. Dunn University of Bri-sh Columbia
Close social rela-onships are extremely important to our happiness. Licle work has inves-gated the role played by less in-mate members of our social network.

RESULTS
On the days when students interacted with more weak ,es, were they happier? Students experienced a more posi-ve aect balance (i.e., posi-ve aect nega-ve aect), t(312)=3.98, p<.001 on the days that they interacted with more weak -es.
20.72

Do increases in weak ,e interac,ons predict increases in well-being? Students who increased their weak -e interac-ons also increased their life sa-sfac-on, controlling for extraversion.
Change in Weak ,e interac,ons Aect Balance r=.12 r=.18 Happiness r=.11 r=.01 r=.41** Life Sa,sfac,on r=.22 r=.38** r=.53** r=.40**

METHOD
Par,cipants: Firstyear students (N=60) Procedure: Reported interac-ons and well-being at the beginning and end of the semester.
September November

Strong ,e r=.16 interac,ons Weak ,e interac,ons Aect Balance Happiness

Affect balance (PA-NA)

15.43

10.14

4.85

-0.44

10.75

21.50

32.25

43.00

Weak tie interactions

NOTE: Par-al correla-ons, controlling for extraversion Aect Balance: Scale of Posi-ve and Nega-ve Experience (Diener et al., 2009) Happiness: Subjec-ve Happiness Scale (Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999) Life Sa,sfac,on: Flourishing Scale (Diener et al., 2009) **p<.01

On the other hand, the number of -mes they interacted with strong -es did not signicantly impact their daily aect, t(312)=1.20, p=.23. Strong ,es: close, know well, conde in Weak ,es: not close, dont know well, unlikely to conde in Analyses were done with hierarchical linear modelling, controlling for extraversion.

Our day-to-day well-being is inuenced not only by a few close friends and family members, but also by the mul-tude of people who lie on the periphery of our social networks.
Contact: gsandstrom@psych.ubc.ca