Data from the World Values Survey is used to show that relational goods have a significant effect on life satisfaction, while television viewing plays a key role in crowding-out relationality.
The findings suggest that the relational treadmill can provide an additional explanation of the income–happiness paradox: the effect of higher income on happiness is offset by lower consumption of relational goods, with television playing a significant role in explaining underconsumption of relationality.
Bruni & Stanca (2008)
Day reconstruction method data would be amenable to such an analysis and may provide insight into the impact of social interaction/empathetic relations on well-being.
I think that work stress and cognitively demanding tasks may play a role in inducing post-work social withdrawal particularly amongst men. This wind-down strategy, typically assoicated with "vegging out" has been found to be effective in reducing circulating stress hormones but may be detrimental to well-being.
This is an incredibly popular way to pass weekday evenings typically coupled with fastfood, chinese take-aways, wine or beer, after a day of sedentary office work. It's no wonder some of us may start to look like this tubby tuber except perhaps without the smile!
