Happy people

• Traits of happy people

  • High self-esteem, sense of personal control = people who feel empowered rather than helpless do better at school
  • Optimism, Extraversion = people who are more outgoing are happier with other people and also when alone
• The relationships of happy people

  • For most people the benefits of relationships outweigh the strains. Research shows that’s people who can name several close friends are healthier and happier than people who can’t
  • Married people are happier than non-married - rates were 39% versus 24% in one study
• Work and the ’flow’ of happy people

  • Work satisfaction affects happiness. People who are out of work are less happy than those in work
• The faith of happy people

  • In North American and Europe people who are religious report higher levels of happiness
  • Happiness is also associated with strength of religious affiliation and frequency of worship attendance