When Close Ties Falter, Do Minimal Interactions Matter? Daily Dynamics of Social Connections and Well-Being

Close and minimal ties are both key social resources that contribute to subjective well-being. Yet, they have largely been examined in separate bodies of literature. The current research aims to understand the association between close and minimal social ties, and their role in subjective well-being. In a 21-day diary study, we examined (1) whether close others’ responsiveness positively or negatively predicted minimal interaction frequency and (2) whether close others’ responsiveness and minimal interaction frequency had independent or interactive roles in happiness. Pre-registered analyses showed that on days when individuals perceived close others as more responsive than usual, they participated in a greater number of minimal interactions. These analyses also demonstrated that when modeled simultaneously, only close others’ responsiveness (but not minimal interaction frequency) significantly predicted happiness. Exploratory analyses contrasting days when participants engaged in no minimal interactions versus when they engaged in at least one indicated an interactive role of minimal and close ties in happiness: On days when close others were perceived as less responsive than usual, engaging in minimal interactions (vs. not) was associated with greater happiness. These findings underscore the importance of studying different aspects of interpersonal relationships together for achieving a more comprehensive understanding of social connections and their links to well-being.