This project was completed as part of a graduate class at ASU. It was a huge success, and tons of fun! I hope you like it, and perhaps want to take on the "7-Day Smile Challenge" yourself!

1. Smile at a
Stranger 
A 7-Day SMS Intervention
Amy Luginbill
NTR 598: Designing Health Behavior
Change Interventions
ASU
#ASUhealthchange

2. The Issue
Nearly everyday we are  “…If I do smile it‟s usually
surrounded by people a half-smile, half head-
nod…”
Most of us acknowledge one  “…I generally avoid eye
another, but rarely take the contact…”
time to truly smile. In fact, we
often avoid each other*  “…I do not smile at
people on the bus or
subway…they seem
A simple smile has the extra creepy…”
potential to make a huge
impact.  “…I will smile at strangers
if I‟m having a good day
What will happen if 15 and if they are a) old
people take 30 seconds a people or b)children…”
day to share a smile?  “…I avoid smiling at
guys, they think I‟m
hitting on them”
*There are the “happy” exceptions 

3. The Solution
Challenge: “Genuinely smile at one stranger a
day. If you already smile at people, make it a big
toothy grin.”
Why (I hope) it will work: Increase awareness of
others & of own actions and feelings. Ultimately 
increased feelings of “happiness” through
benefits of smiling and connecting with others
Procedure: Send text message every morning
with reminder and/or fun fact about smiling.
Include follow-up text every night. (Sent total of 6
reminders and 6 follow-ups)

4. The Results
 7 of 15 participants Positive
smiled every day “…felt happier when I got
 86.7% “smile rate” to work!”
 63.4% “smile-back rate” “…felt more awake when I
 Reasons for not smiling started smiling”
 Didn‟t leave the house/see a “…got a compliment on my
stranger „sick‟ jacket…”
 Sick/Didn‟t feel well “…smiled at the gym, I
never smile there!”
Negative “…[smiled at]woman
“Smiled a lot but none smiled struggling with her
back…sad and disheartening” cart…she seemed to
“…guy just stared back…asked relax…”
what I was lookin‟ at” “I‟m loving being
“Smiled at a lady who looked contentious of smiling”
like she hated life and she “Woman stopped to tell me
glared back, I was grumpy after how lovely my smile is…”
that…”

5. Conclusion, What‟s Next?
Post-Behavioral Affirmative Negative Other
Questions
Did you smile 11 Y – due to study 2 – maybe, was
more/more often at most aware smiling
strangers?
What affect did 12 Y- Happier 1 – happy anyways,
smiling have on (when smile back), so none
your general more confident,
mood? less stress for a
moment, got a
“lift”, gave people
the gift of
happiness 
Was this challenge 1 Y – hard to 9 N – texts helped 3 – A little, had to
difficult for you? remember to smile think about it, hard
with teeth when in bad mood
Would you like/will 11 Y – already 2 N – due to living in
you continue to have, starting own a large city
smile at others? challenge!
*13 of 15 participants responded