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Close friends are 'key to true happiness'
Our happiness depends on the number of close friends we have, according to new research.
People lucky enough to have at least 10 good friends are likely to be happier than those with less than five, concluded the study for The National Lottery.
Dr Richard Tunney, of the University of Nottingham's school of psychology, looked at the link between social networks and happiness among lottery winners and a sample group from across the UK.
He found we need to look after our friends if we want to be happy, and happier people tend to have more close pals and make new ones regularly.
Lottery winners were happiest with friends they had known a long time, resulting in a smaller but closer social circle.
Dr Tunney said: "Having a number of old, close friendships is related to individual happiness.
"People who were 'extremely satisfied' with their lives had twice the number of friends of people who were 'extremely dissatisfied'."
More than 1,760 people were asked about their relationships with friends for the study and how happy and satisfied they felt with life.
People with five friends or less have a 40% chance of being happy, the report found. Having between five and 10 gives you a 50% chance of happiness, and people with more than 10 friends are increasingly likely to be happy than not (55%).
But the study had a note of caution for those who spread themselves more thinly. Having many more friends than 10 does not make you a happier person - it is more important to maintain the relationships you have, it concluded.
Lottery winners make relatively fewer new friends but are a happier group of people.
Dr Tunney believes this could be because the win allows them to spend more "quality time" with their families rather than socialising with new friends.
The survey also looked at the friendship-to-happiness ratio in the UK's major cities.
People from Birmingham were crowned as the friendliest and happiest bunch - with an average of 29 friends each, 75% of them are officially happy.
At the bottom of the list were people from Brighton who, despite having an average of 42 friends each, only 56% of them were found to be happy.
Dr Tunney said: "In these uncertain economic times, it is important to remember just how greatly friends can contribute to your general well being and happiness.
"Those who have genuine, true friends for life are rich in many more ways."
He is author of The Circle of Friends report, which is the third study into happiness, looking at a comparison between lottery winners and a UK sample group, commissioned by The National Lottery.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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