Study suggests to buy experiences, not things, to combat loneliness

Last year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy released an advisory that described loneliness and isolation as a national epidemic, with health consequences that rival those associated with cigarette smoking and obesity. To help address this pervasive isolation, Murthy’s office challenged Americans to find and act on ways to strengthen their social connections. New research by Amit Kumar, assistant professor of marketing and psychology at Texas McCombs, suggests one effective method: spending money on experiences rather than material goods. The research is published in the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making. Read More