Social Mismatch and Affective Wellbeing: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

Lianne P. de Vries; Meike Bartels

doi:10.1007/s10902-025-00965-6

Social Mismatch and Affective Wellbeing: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

Lianne P. de Vries^*
, Meike Bartels

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

The affective benefits of social contact depend on momentary social needs. Mismatch between desired and actual contact can result in social deprivation or oversatiation. We examined these dynamics in relation to affective wellbeing, considering genetic predispositions for loneliness, wellbeing, and depressive symptoms. A general-population sample of 1,086 adults (71% female, M_age = 36.4) completed 7-day Ecological Momentary Assessments of affect and social contact eight times daily. Social mismatch was higher when alone (M = 3.67) than with others (M = 2.65). Dynamic Structural Equation Modelling showed higher negative affect (β =.18 and β =.04) and lower positive affect (β = -.19 and β = -.05) was related to more social mismatch concurrently and two hours later. Unexpectedly, social oversatiation was linked to reduced negative affect two hours later (β = -.03). Younger adults and those with a stronger genetic predisposition for wellbeing showed stronger effects of social mismatch on positive affect. The results highlights the complex relationship between social contact, needs, and affective wellbeing.

Original language	English
Article number	136
Number of pages	19
Journal	Journal of Happiness Studies
Volume	26
Issue number	8
Early online date	23 Oct 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-025-00965-6
Publication status	Published - 23 Oct 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.

Funding

This work is supported by an ERC consolidator grant (WELLBEING 771057, M. Bartels), ZonMW Addiction program (31160008) and an ERC starting grant 284167. M. Bartels is funded by an NWO-VICI grant (VI.C.211.054).

Funders	Funder number
European Research Council	WELLBEING 771057
ZonMw	31160008, 284167
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek	VI.C.211.054

Keywords

Depressive symptoms
Ecological momentary assessment
Genetic predisposition
Positive and negative affect
Social contact
Social mismatch
Wellbeing

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title = "Social Mismatch and Affective Wellbeing: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study",

abstract = "The affective benefits of social contact depend on momentary social needs. Mismatch between desired and actual contact can result in social deprivation or oversatiation. We examined these dynamics in relation to affective wellbeing, considering genetic predispositions for loneliness, wellbeing, and depressive symptoms. A general-population sample of 1,086 adults (71\% female, Mage = 36.4) completed 7-day Ecological Momentary Assessments of affect and social contact eight times daily. Social mismatch was higher when alone (M = 3.67) than with others (M = 2.65). Dynamic Structural Equation Modelling showed higher negative affect (β =.18 and β =.04) and lower positive affect (β = -.19 and β = -.05) was related to more social mismatch concurrently and two hours later. Unexpectedly, social oversatiation was linked to reduced negative affect two hours later (β = -.03). Younger adults and those with a stronger genetic predisposition for wellbeing showed stronger effects of social mismatch on positive affect. The results highlights the complex relationship between social contact, needs, and affective wellbeing.",

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AU - de Vries, Lianne P.

AU - Bartels, Meike

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.

PY - 2025/10/23

Y1 - 2025/10/23

N2 - The affective benefits of social contact depend on momentary social needs. Mismatch between desired and actual contact can result in social deprivation or oversatiation. We examined these dynamics in relation to affective wellbeing, considering genetic predispositions for loneliness, wellbeing, and depressive symptoms. A general-population sample of 1,086 adults (71% female, Mage = 36.4) completed 7-day Ecological Momentary Assessments of affect and social contact eight times daily. Social mismatch was higher when alone (M = 3.67) than with others (M = 2.65). Dynamic Structural Equation Modelling showed higher negative affect (β =.18 and β =.04) and lower positive affect (β = -.19 and β = -.05) was related to more social mismatch concurrently and two hours later. Unexpectedly, social oversatiation was linked to reduced negative affect two hours later (β = -.03). Younger adults and those with a stronger genetic predisposition for wellbeing showed stronger effects of social mismatch on positive affect. The results highlights the complex relationship between social contact, needs, and affective wellbeing.

AB - The affective benefits of social contact depend on momentary social needs. Mismatch between desired and actual contact can result in social deprivation or oversatiation. We examined these dynamics in relation to affective wellbeing, considering genetic predispositions for loneliness, wellbeing, and depressive symptoms. A general-population sample of 1,086 adults (71% female, Mage = 36.4) completed 7-day Ecological Momentary Assessments of affect and social contact eight times daily. Social mismatch was higher when alone (M = 3.67) than with others (M = 2.65). Dynamic Structural Equation Modelling showed higher negative affect (β =.18 and β =.04) and lower positive affect (β = -.19 and β = -.05) was related to more social mismatch concurrently and two hours later. Unexpectedly, social oversatiation was linked to reduced negative affect two hours later (β = -.03). Younger adults and those with a stronger genetic predisposition for wellbeing showed stronger effects of social mismatch on positive affect. The results highlights the complex relationship between social contact, needs, and affective wellbeing.

KW - Depressive symptoms

KW - Ecological momentary assessment

KW - Genetic predisposition

KW - Positive and negative affect

KW - Social contact

KW - Social mismatch

KW - Wellbeing

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ER -

Social Mismatch and Affective Wellbeing: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

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Keywords

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