Study Probes Spread of Happiness

Dr. Nicholas Christakis (physician and social scientist at Harvard Medical School) and James Fowler (associate professor of political science at U. Cal. San Diego) coauthored an article to be published today in the BMJ (a British Journal) regarding the spread and impact of happiness. The duo analyzed information regarding the happiness of 4,739 people and their connections with several thousand other people to whom they were connected including, spouses, neighbors, co-workers and close friends for a 20 year period through 2003. Their findings revealed a collective emotional existence wherein the happiness of other people one is connected to has a tremendous impact on one's personal happiness. Their research found that "if your friend's friend's friend becomes happy, that has a bigger impact on you being happy than an extra $5,000 in your pocket."

The study, financed by the National Institute on Aging has sparked some critical comments and is still subject to peer review and replication, but it certainly is cause for positive reflection on the interdependency of our own happiness and that of those around us.