Pers Soc Psychol Bull July 2014 PMID 24769739

Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties.

Gillian M Sandstrom, Elizabeth W Dunn

Mentions

313
Peak: 8 in Mar 2022
across 6 sources since Apr 2019

Extended reach

228,390
potential audience

Total likes

102

Video views

308

Mentions per month

Apr 2019 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News252 articles
  • X / Twitter36 posts
  • Blogs18 articles
  • YouTube4 videos
  • Facebook2 posts
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall discussions highlight the importance of casual interactions, such as with strangers at coffee shops or baristas, as contributors to happiness and belonging. Words like 'beneficial,' 'powerful,' and 'worth living' emphasize strong endorsement and perceived significance, while references to research studies lend credibility and depth to the conversation. This tone fosters a sense of optimism about expanding social connections beyond close relationships.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most posts strongly support the article's findings, emphasizing the positive effects of weak social ties on well-being and the benefits of casual interactions.

InterestHigh interest

Posts demonstrate high curiosity and relevance, referencing multiple studies and encouraging active social engagement.

EngagementHigh engagement

Several discussions delve into the details of research methods and implications, showing deep consideration of the topic.

ImpactHigh impact

The collective tone suggests that these discussions perceive the publication as highly impactful in understanding social well-being and encouraging social behavior.

Abstract in brief

  • The research explores how both strong ties (like friends and family) and weak ties (like acquaintances) impact our well-being, emphasizing that social interactions with a broader range of people can boost happiness and feelings of belonging.
  • Study 1 found that students experienced more happiness and belonging on days they interacted more with classmates, highlighting the positive effects of social engagement.
  • Further studies (2A and 2B) confirmed that interactions with weak ties also significantly contribute to social and emotional well-being, suggesting that even peripheral social contacts are important for our overall happiness.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Rob Henderson
@robkhenderson · X

"people feel a greater sense of belonging, as well as increased positive affect, after having a social interaction with the barista at a coffee shop. Also, people feel more socially connected when a passerby makes eye contact instead of looking past them" https://t.co/UztY4TanEW https://t.co/ZEQmgrX0S8

Mar 25, 2022 · 59 likes · 9 shares · 177,798 followers View post →
Abdul-Malik Merchant
@AtTajeri · X

Islam is largely communal—daily prayers are encouraged to be in congregation, Jummah has a minimum attendance number, Tazkiya is the art of refining manners (with God and His creation), etc. Psychologist found even weak relationships improve well-being. https://t.co/qOwUT3wEin

Jun 12, 2019 · 14 likes · 6 shares · 1,755 followers View post →
Leonhard Schilbach
@leoschilbach · X

Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties https://t.co/KuIBlOoIiC

Oct 19, 2022 · 8 likes · 6 shares · 6,747 followers View post →
Susanne Buecker
@BueckerSusanne · X

@gabrielagan21 There is a nice paper on this topic by @GillianSocial et al.: https://t.co/hNm1wYen06. Daily interactions with both strong and weak ties were related to social and emotional well-being (including feelings of belonging).

Apr 27, 2020 · 3 likes · 1,138 followers View post →
☼
@folddpstcrd · X

@IoreIeifunk Research by Gillian Sandstrom and Elizabeth Dunn showed that even brief interactions with "weak ties" (like cashiers or baristas) contribute to feelings of belonging and well-being https://t.co/i1S0RkiXdk

Jan 9, 2025 · 2 likes · 376 followers View post →
Olivia June
@oliviajune · X

A 2014 study found that the more weak ties a person has, the happier they feel. https://t.co/t3HgH2rZB3

May 13, 2019 · 1 like · 2,952 followers View post →

All mentions

Brian Kurilla
@briankurilla.bsky.social · Bluesky

Research by Sandstrom & Dunn (2014) shows that brief social interactions — even with weak ties — improve mood, increase feelings of belonging, and are often less awkward than people predict. The beneficial effects even persist across personality types. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24769739/

Jun 24, 2025 · 1 share View post →
☼
@folddpstcrd · X

@IoreIeifunk Research by Gillian Sandstrom and Elizabeth Dunn showed that even brief interactions with "weak ties" (like cashiers or baristas) contribute to feelings of belonging and well-being https://t.co/i1S0RkiXdk

Jan 9, 2025 · 2 likes · 376 followers View post →
Vicky Saint-Ange
@VickySaintAnge · X

@EnzoDaumier https://t.co/s4alVGYRMh : Ignorer le besoin de connexion de l'humain est réellement dommageable à la santéet le small talk participe à ce besoin de connexion. https://t.co/i39utDZfeP : Le small talk est un outil très efficace pour le bien-être

Mar 4, 2024 · 335 followers View post →
Valerie Brader
@ValerieBrader · X

@AmysMargin Your insights jibe with recent studies re loneliness https://t.co/vJw1IEgGaQ

Dec 9, 2023 · 1,164 followers View post →
CRUX Psychology
@cruxpsychology · X

Guess Mom was wrong when she said “don’t talk to strangers”! More research is needed to qualify weak social ties and casual interactions, but it’s clear belonging relies on more than just close friends and family. (Sandstrom & Dunn, 2014) https://t.co/EVDno4rDJH

Dec 7, 2023 · 401 followers View post →
Evelyn WaughⓋ
@Kerbrech · X

'Weak Ties' make my human social life worth living! Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties - Gillian M. Sandstrom, Elizabeth W. Dunn, 2014 https://t.co/JZjA6JxcdE

Feb 28, 2023 · 1 like · 1,802 followers View post →
white is the color of death
@MxOwl · X

@adhdjesse https://t.co/luTwVpXOKu

Nov 13, 2022 · 519 followers View post →
Evelyn Gosnell
@evelyngosnell · X

Research referenced: https://t.co/LcKujoga9s https://t.co/nccMhucDpD https://t.co/sbAzjpxqVI https://t.co/MyP7Sqpxia https://t.co/JcKJZIscYd

Nov 8, 2022 · 2,370 followers View post →
Juan C. Higuera C.
@juan_enredado · X

RT @leoschilbach: Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties https://t.co/KuIBlOoIiC

Oct 19, 2022 · 6 shares · 317 followers View post →
Mengsen Zhang
@Mengsen · X

RT @leoschilbach: Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties https://t.co/KuIBlOoIiC

Oct 19, 2022 · 6 shares · 1,262 followers View post →
Zehra C.
@Zehra1C_ · X

RT @leoschilbach: Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties https://t.co/KuIBlOoIiC

Oct 19, 2022 · 6 shares · 2,298 followers View post →
Juan Camilo Avendano-Diaz
@juancamiload · X

RT @leoschilbach: Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties https://t.co/KuIBlOoIiC

Oct 19, 2022 · 6 shares · 831 followers View post →
Leonhard Schilbach
@leoschilbach · X

RT @leoschilbach: Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties https://t.co/KuIBlOoIiC

Oct 19, 2022 · 6 shares · 6,747 followers View post →
Leonhard Schilbach
@leoschilbach · X

Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties https://t.co/KuIBlOoIiC

Oct 19, 2022 · 8 likes · 6 shares · 6,747 followers View post →
Towards Kindness
@TowardKindness · X

Also great links to existing research backing this up: 1) Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties https://t.co/x2PaF6mjnJ

Jun 12, 2022 · 12 followers View post →
REEL
@ReelResearch · X

RT @robkhenderson: "people feel a greater sense of belonging, as well as increased positive affect, after having a social interaction with…

Mar 26, 2022 · 9 shares · 2,257 followers View post →
dobby is free
@loonighteu · X

RT @robkhenderson: "people feel a greater sense of belonging, as well as increased positive affect, after having a social interaction with…

Mar 26, 2022 · 9 shares · 473 followers View post →
Cinophile
@Cinophile12 · X

RT @robkhenderson: "people feel a greater sense of belonging, as well as increased positive affect, after having a social interaction with…

Mar 25, 2022 · 9 shares · 1,089 followers View post →
Darremono
@darrensayas · X

RT @robkhenderson: "people feel a greater sense of belonging, as well as increased positive affect, after having a social interaction with…

Mar 25, 2022 · 9 shares · 21 followers View post →
Grandpa Wrinkles. ( ͡ᵔ ͜ʖ ͡ᵔ )
@grandpawrinkles · X

RT @robkhenderson: "people feel a greater sense of belonging, as well as increased positive affect, after having a social interaction with…

Mar 25, 2022 · 9 shares · 569 followers View post →
Richard Brabner
@richardbrabner · X

RT @robkhenderson: "people feel a greater sense of belonging, as well as increased positive affect, after having a social interaction with…

Mar 25, 2022 · 9 shares · 1,388 followers View post →
a-leon
@Leon19982021 · X

RT @robkhenderson: "people feel a greater sense of belonging, as well as increased positive affect, after having a social interaction with…

Mar 25, 2022 · 9 shares · 366 followers View post →
Rob Henderson
@robkhenderson · X

"people feel a greater sense of belonging, as well as increased positive affect, after having a social interaction with the barista at a coffee shop. Also, people feel more socially connected when a passerby makes eye contact instead of looking past them" https://t.co/UztY4TanEW https://t.co/ZEQmgrX0S8

Mar 25, 2022 · 59 likes · 9 shares · 177,798 followers View post →
bloomd
@thebloomdapp · X

Did you know that interactions with strangers can increase feelings of happiness & belonging? As they say, a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet! So why not give a new connection a try today on @thebloomdapp? Read more: https://t.co/1ly6nR5eZk https://t.co/bti6CyWB9m

Mar 18, 2021 · 1 like · 15 followers View post →
Maggie McTernan
@maggsmct · X

@janemerrick23 This study by Sandstorm and Dunn highlights the benefits to well-being of these weak social ties. https://t.co/BFZgi5IG4u

Oct 9, 2020 · 1 like · 1,431 followers View post →
Susanne Buecker
@BueckerSusanne · X

@gabrielagan21 There is a nice paper on this topic by @GillianSocial et al.: https://t.co/hNm1wYen06. Daily interactions with both strong and weak ties were related to social and emotional well-being (including feelings of belonging).

Apr 27, 2020 · 3 likes · 1,138 followers View post →
ありたに
@glass_tiny · X

見知らぬ人に話しかけると幸福度が上がる つまりナンパすると幸せになる!?https://t.co/D01SPQj6ZX

Mar 14, 2020 · 375 followers View post →
Laila Hashi
@hashi_laila · X

RT @AtTajeri: Islam is largely communal—daily prayers are encouraged to be in congregation, Jummah has a minimum attendance number, Tazkiya…

Jun 15, 2019 · 6 shares View post →
Fatihunnada
@FatihunnadaAnis · X

RT @AtTajeri: Islam is largely communal—daily prayers are encouraged to be in congregation, Jummah has a minimum attendance number, Tazkiya…

Jun 13, 2019 · 6 shares · 539 followers View post →
hazel gómez
@Palunquita · X

RT @AtTajeri: Islam is largely communal—daily prayers are encouraged to be in congregation, Jummah has a minimum attendance number, Tazkiya…

Jun 13, 2019 · 6 shares · 4,749 followers View post →
Mehreen Yusuf
@YusufMehreen · X

RT @AtTajeri: Islam is largely communal—daily prayers are encouraged to be in congregation, Jummah has a minimum attendance number, Tazkiya…

Jun 12, 2019 · 6 shares · 9 followers View post →
Mikaeel Smith
@mikaeelahmeds · X

RT @AtTajeri: Islam is largely communal—daily prayers are encouraged to be in congregation, Jummah has a minimum attendance number, Tazkiya…

Jun 12, 2019 · 6 shares · 4,016 followers View post →
Abdul-Malik Merchant
@AtTajeri · X

Islam is largely communal—daily prayers are encouraged to be in congregation, Jummah has a minimum attendance number, Tazkiya is the art of refining manners (with God and His creation), etc. Psychologist found even weak relationships improve well-being. https://t.co/qOwUT3wEin

Jun 12, 2019 · 14 likes · 6 shares · 1,755 followers View post →
Ata Homayoun
@AtaHomayoun · X

Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties - Gillian M. Sandstrom, Elizabeth W. Dunn, https://t.co/X3SvWYUFbt

May 14, 2019 · 1 like · 1 share · 597 followers View post →
Olivia June
@oliviajune · X

A 2014 study found that the more weak ties a person has, the happier they feel. https://t.co/t3HgH2rZB3

May 13, 2019 · 1 like · 2,952 followers View post →
Cleaner
@0xCleaner · X

The more weak ties a person has (neighbors, a barista at the neighborhood coffee shop or fellow members in a spin class), the happier they feel. Maintaining this network of acquaintances also contributes to one’s sense of belonging to a community. https://t.co/XGLUFh3Xob

May 8, 2019 · 300 followers View post →
andré fm
@andrefmont · X

Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties https://t.co/V2bMGWlEfb

Apr 30, 2019 · 1 like · 774 followers View post →