The more neighbors people greet on a regular basis, the higher their wellbeing score. This was found in a study conducted as part of the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index. The study showed that all five elements of wellbeing (career, social, financial, physical, and community) are closely associated with greeting neighbors. Greeting six neighbors appears to be the optimal number for maximizing wellbeing. The study also found that older adults and those with higher incomes are more likely to greet their neighbors. Overall, greeting neighbors is linked to personal wellbeing, and it may contribute to faster healing, reduced stress, and better engagement at work.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greeting neighbors linked to higher wellbeing | Increase in social interactions | Increased emphasis on neighborly relationships for wellbeing | Desire for improved personal wellbeing |
| Wellbeing score increases with number of neighbors greeted | Increase in wellbeing | More emphasis on greeting neighbors for improved wellbeing | Desire for improved personal wellbeing |
| Greeting neighbors peaks among those 65 and older | Shift in age demographics greeting neighbors | Increase in older adults greeting neighbors | Desire for improved personal wellbeing, limited social interactions as we age |
| Greeting neighbors more common among higher-income adults | Shift in income demographics greeting neighbors | Increase in greeting neighbors among higher-income individuals | Desire for improved personal wellbeing, higher social interactions due to higher income |
| Greeting neighbors linked to financial, community, career, and physical wellbeing | Increase in overall wellbeing | Greater emphasis on neighborly relationships for improved wellbeing | Desire for improved personal wellbeing |
| Greeting neighbors linked to higher life ratings | Increase in overall life satisfaction | More emphasis on greeting neighbors for improved life ratings | Desire for improved personal wellbeing |
| Social interactions linked to faster healing, reduced stress, and better engagement at work | Increase in positive health outcomes and work engagement | More emphasis on social interactions for improved health and work outcomes | Desire for improved personal wellbeing, recognition of benefits of social interactions |
| Older adults invest in neighborly relationships at higher rates | Shift in age demographics investing in neighborly relationships | Increase in neighborly relationships among older adults | Desire for improved personal wellbeing, limited social interactions as we age |
| Optimal number of greetings aligns with optimal life ratings and elements of wellbeing | Alignment of optimal greetings with overall wellbeing | Greater emphasis on optimal greetings for improved wellbeing | Desire for improved personal wellbeing |
| Greeting neighbors linked to career, physical, and financial wellbeing | Increase in career, physical, and financial wellbeing | More emphasis on greeting neighbors for improved career, physical, and financial wellbeing | Desire for improved personal wellbeing |