Want to feel healthier and happier? Say hi to neighbours
Next time a neighbour passes by, stop and say hello. Regularly saying hi to others in your neighbourhood will pay you back in ways you never thought of. The National Health and Well-Being Index(opens in new window), a poll conducted by United States (US)-based global analytics and advice firm Gallup, found that adults who often greet multiple neighbours report increased well-being compared to those who greet less. The findings were based on over 4 500 US adults.
Being neighbourly
Overall, the national poll’s aim was to better understand the key factors that drive well-being among people across the US. It focused on five interrelated elements that make up well-being: career (you like what you do every day); social (you have meaningful friendships in your life); financial (you manage your money well); physical (you have energy to get things done); and community (you like where you live). “The sweet spot as far as well-being is concerned, is six greetings,” Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index research director Dan Witters told ‘CNN’(opens in new window). “After six, there aren’t any greater benefits from greeting your neighbors beyond that. But six is better than five, five is better than four, all the way down to zero.” But what exactly is considered a greeting? “We don’t require that you know the person well, stop and chat, or even that you know their name,” explained Witters. He added that “presumably, the more people to whom you say hello, the greater the probability is that you’re actually going to strike up a conversation with them as opposed to just wave.” And what about the frequency? “We leave that up to the respondent to interpret, but our intent was for this to mean all the people to whom you greet whenever you see them,” Witters elaborated. “Some days might be zero, some days might be every one of them.”
Age matters
The survey also found that greeting neighbours is more common among older adults with higher incomes. People 65 and older reported greeting 6.5 neighbours, while those under 30 said hi to about 2.9 neighbours. “That’s likely associated with financial well-being and urban density — young people are much more likely to live in the inner cities in a high-rise apartment or condo,” Witters stated. “Oftentimes you don’t even know who your neighbors are, let alone saying hi to one.” Let’s not forget those smartphones. “People aren’t looking up saying hello, they’re just looking down at their device. I am very open to the possibility that that is a factor.” Regularly saying hi was not only associated with improved social success but also with better financial, career, physical and community health. This is because it boosts the chances of being outside and moving the body, fosters a sense of belonging and community, and shows that you’re feeling safe when getting out and about.