Blog Search - "Happiness & social connection "

Posted on Wed, 7 Oct 09

Reconnect with your tribe

It has been proposed that we are currently experiencing such high rates of stress related disorders including anxiety, insomnia, drug abuse and depression because as a society we have become disconnected socially. In our not to distant past we generally lived in close-knit groups with strong social support, a shared world view and a clear sense of purpose and belonging (1). In the modern world regaining this social connectedness has important implications for our health and wellness.

Posted on Wed, 7 Oct 09

Happiness spreads health like a virus

People who experience higher levels of happiness, joy, excitement, enthusiasm and contentment live longer and are less likely to suffer disease than those who are less happy (1). Importantly, happier people do not experience less stress and adversity in their lives but rather they have more social support, a higher level of social connectedness and are more likely to be optimistic (2). This suggests happiness is dependant not only on an individuals outlook but also on the people around them. Recently it has been discovered, that much like a virus, happiness spreads contagiously through social networks.

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