Valuing Time Over Money Is Associated with Greater Social Connection

A.V.  Whillans; Elizabeth W.  Dunn

Article | Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Valuing Time Over Money Is Associated with Greater Social Connection

by A.V. Whillans and Elizabeth W. Dunn

Abstract

Can the trade-offs that people make between time and money shape our social relationships? Across three studies, utilizing self-report (N=127; N=249) and behavioral outcomes (N=358), we provide the first evidence that the chronic orientation to prioritize time over money encourages greater investment in daily social interactions. For example, in Study 2, respondents who valued time spent 18% longer socializing with a new peer than respondents who valued money. These findings could not be explained by extroversion (Study 1) or by demographic characteristics such as age, gender, or socioeconomic status (Studies 1–3). Together, these studies suggest that valuing time over money facilitates social connection.

Keywords: time; belonging; social connection; trade-offs; well-being; Money; Value; Relationships; Social and Collaborative Networks;

Format: Print

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Citation:

Whillans, A.V., and Elizabeth W. Dunn. "Valuing Time Over Money Is Associated with Greater Social Connection." Journal of Social and Personal Relationships 36, no. 8 (August 2019): 2549–2565.

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Valuing Time Over Money Is Associated with Greater Social Connection

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