Close friends are 'key to true happiness'

Bill

Our happiness depends on the number of close friends we have, according to new research.
                      Peoplelucky enough to have at least 10 good friends are likely to be happierthan those with less than five, concluded the study for The NationalLottery.

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.

Hefound we need to look after our friends if we want to be happy, andhappier 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.

"Peoplewho were 'extremely satisfied' with their lives had twice the number offriends of people who were 'extremely dissatisfied'."

More than1,760 people were asked about their relationships with friends for thestudy and how happy and satisfied they felt with life.

Peoplewith five friends or less have a 40% chance of being happy, the reportfound. Having between five and 10 gives you a 50% chance of happiness,and people with more than 10 friends are increasingly likely to behappy than not (55%).

But the study had a note of caution forthose who spread themselves more thinly. Having many more friends than10 does not make you a happier person - it is more important tomaintain the relationships you have, it concluded.

Lottery winners make relatively fewer new friends but are a happier group of people.

DrTunney believes this could be because the win allows them to spend more"quality time" with their families rather than socialising with newfriends.

The survey also looked at the friendship-to-happiness ratio in the UK's major cities.

Peoplefrom Birmingham were crowned as the friendliest and happiest bunch -with an average of 29 friends each, 75% of them are officially happy.

Atthe bottom of the list were people from Brighton who, despite having anaverage of 42 friends each, only 56% of them were found to be happy.

DrTunney said: "In these uncertain economic times, it is important toremember just how greatly friends can contribute to your general wellbeing and happiness.

"Those who have genuine, true friends for life are rich in many more ways."

Heis author of The Circle of Friends report, which is the third studyinto happiness, looking at a comparison between lottery winners and aUK sample group, commissioned by The National Lottery.

my-alja

culture omputis nie lain sket drp kita....

depa nie suka lepak kat club, tu sebab kena ramai kawan2...
cam org melayu nie, cukuplah setakat sorang dua kawan rapat
yg lain2 tu cuma kawan bersosial dan kenalan kot...

jumpa hi2..bye2....

faraway1

culture omputis nie lain sket drp kita....

depa nie suka lepak kat club, tu sebab kena ramai kawan2...
cam org melayu nie, cukuplah setakat sorang dua kawan rapat
yg lain2 tu cuma kawan bersosial ...
my-alja Post at 18-10-2009 20:04

omputih yg me kenal ni heheh ada
dua kawan rapat plus wife yg dah kawan sejak 20 tahun lebih gitu..
dan sorang yg kekadang dia tepon tanya khabar... ni me tau
sbb kekawan dia kekawan me jugak... dia tak ramai kawan
langsung, mungkin sbb dia suka duk rumah dr merayap
sampai me rasa kekawan me ada lagi ramai dr kekawan dia ada..