What the science of happiness says about the self and others | Aeon Essays

“If I wanted to predict your happiness, and I could know only one thing about you, I wouldn’t want to know your gender, religion, health, or income. I’d want to know about your social network—about your friends and family, and the strength of your bonds with them.”

Both the singing and the hobby classes also showed significant improvements in physical and mental health, as well as in satisfaction with life; the effect seemed to be driven by a sense of bonding to the group as a whole rather than being anything to do with individual friendships established within the groups.

engaging in these activities with others strengthens our membership of the wider community and elevates our general sense of wellbeing and satisfaction with life