The happier your friends and family are, the happier you will be, especially if they live nearby. That’s what some scientists say they’ve discovered since studying the effects of happy people on the health and wellbeing of others.

Surrounding yourself with happy people could be one of the best ways of cheering yourself up, according to a report published in December on bmj.com (the British Medical Journal’s website). And the more time you spend with happy people, the greater your chances of being happier in the future. 

 

Researchers claim that you’re up to 42% more likely to be cheerful if you have a cheerful friend living within half a mile of you, although this drops to 25% if they’re a mile away. Brothers and sisters who radiate their happiness and are close neighbours increase your likelihood of being bright and breezy by 14%.

 

What’s more, the scientists found this wasn’t just because cheerful people tend to enjoy the company of others who have a happy disposition. They say the happiness really does rub off.  

 

It seems that spreading happiness amongst is good news all round. Other studies have shown that true friendships help you live longer, stay healthy and feel good about yourself, while older couples who’ve learnt to laugh off their arguments reduce their chances of stroke and heart attacks.