Study Reveals Celebrations And Happy Events Can Be Beneficial For Well-Being, Health

According to new research, when you meet others for food and drink, you can feel more socially accepted by making an effort to highlight nice things that have happened to you and your life.

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A recent study, making a conscious effort to acknowledge happy life events and triumphs while gathering for food and drink will make you feel more socially accepted.

The study, which was published online in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, discovered that celebrations with three conditions — social gathering, eating or drinking, and consciously commemorating a positive life event — improve perceived social support. According to a prior study, perceived social support is the notion that you have a social network that will be there for you in the event of future, unfavourable life occurrences. This idea is linked to improved health and well-being outcomes, such as a longer life expectancy and less anxiety and sadness.

"Many gatherings this time of year involve two of the three conditions - eating and drinking while meeting together," said Kelley Gullo Wight, co-author of the study and assistant professor at Indiana University Kelley School of Business.

"The third criterion, making an active effort to appreciate others' positive accomplishments, is critical. For example, take the time to congratulate someone on being accepted to their first-choice university, a successful work project, or a new employment offer. This will maximise the benefits to your health and the health of everyone else at the Christmas party", she continued.

According to the study, even if the gatherings are virtual, if everyone has food and drink (whether healthy or decadent) and they're celebrating positive events, this boosts a person's perceived social support and provides the same well-being effects.

It also has ramifications for marketing executives and anyone wanting to raise donations for a worthy cause.

"We discovered that when people feel socially supported after a celebration, they're more 'pro-social,' and more willing to volunteer their time or donate to a cause," said Danielle Brick, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Connecticut and study co-author. "This would be a good time for non-profits to market donation campaigns, around the time many people are celebrating positive life events, like holidays or graduations."

According to the researchers, having events that promote perceived social support can be especially useful in areas that serve persons at risk of loneliness and isolation, such as nursing homes or community centres.

They also emphasise the need of understanding the well-being benefits of celebrations for politicians considering imposing rules or policies that may disrupt social events, such as Covid lockdowns, to avoid detrimental mental health outcomes.

If organisers must do virtual festivities, they should include some sort of consumption as well as the commemoration of a separate, positive life event, so that individuals leave the party feeling socially supported.

(With Inputs From ANI)