"Small talk does have a function," said study author Matthias Mehl, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, Tucson. "For smooth social functioning, we need small talk."
But those who engage in more meaningful conversations are more likely to share a happy well being, Mehl said. "What really connects you to people is substantive, meaningful conversation rather than small talk."
"It doesn't have to be all about philosophy or the afterlife, it just has to have substance," he said.
Findings of the study suggest that a person’s well being is directly related to the profound incidence of conversations he has.
The study also gives insight as to why people who spend time alone are more likely to be depressed.
79 undergraduates examined
In order to study how conversation links to happiness, Matthias Mehl and his colleagues recruited 79 college students, both males and females.
Instead of bringing the participants to lab, they were equipped with a portable device called an electronically activated recorder (EAR) for four days.
In four days’ time period, the device yielded more than 23,000 recordings, or roughly about 300 recordings per participant.
The researchers listened to the recordings and classified them as small talk or substantive conversation. Meanwhile, the participants completed their personality and well-being assessment tests.
EAR is a device which periodically records snippets of conversation as the wearers follow their normal routine. The device records 30 seconds of sound after every 12.5 minutes.
Outcome of the study
On analyzing the recordings and the tests, the researchers found those who spent less time alone and more time talking to others enjoyed the greatest well-being.
They observed that the happiest participants spent 25 percent less time alone and 70 percent more time indulging in deep, meaningful conversations compared to the unhappy participants.
It was also found that the happiest ones spent just a third of time alone and were twice more likely to engage in deep conversations compared to unhappiest ones.
The researchers were more intrigued when they found that the type of conversations--trivial or deep--the volunteers shared had the most impact on one’s well-being.
Mehl said, “These findings suggest that the happy life is social and conversationally deep rather than solitary and superficial."
The study concluded, “Just as self disclosure can instill a sense of intimacy in a relationship, deep conversations may instill a sense of meaning in interaction with partners.”
No cause and effect established
The study was reviewed by two other experts who stated that the findings may solve the age-old riddle as to what makes a happy life or what makes people happy.
But the researchers of the study did not delve into the cause of the link between the type of conversation and happiness.
"We can't conclude that if you go out and have meaningful conversation you are going to be happier," said James Maddux, one of the experts, a professor of psychology at George Mason University, in Fairfax, Va.
But the association between substantive talks and happiness does make sense, he said.
For instance when a marriage goes sour, "the conversation often changes; they talk about more superficial [topics]."
Thus implying a lack of meaningful conversation could be a major source of unhappiness in a relationship, he explained.
The study appears in the Journal Psychological Science.
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