What makes people happier, money or having happy friends? Researchers from Harvard University have found the answer to this question in a study.
The study found that people who have happy friends have a greater chance of being happy. And if the happy friends are closer to you, you will be happier. For example, a person's happiness rises by 20% if a happy friend lives within 1.5 kilometers. Having a happy neighbor makes the chance of being happy higher by 34%. The effects of friends' happiness last for up to a year.
The researchers found that happiness is really contagious. Sadness also spreads among friends, but not as much as happiness. The study shows that having an extra (额外的) five thousand dollars increases a person's chances of becoming happier by about 2%. But the effect of a friend's happiness could in fact be greater than that.
The study also shows that people are happier when having happy friends than having good colleagues (同事) .