happiness is contagious

Interesting article in the LA Times a few weeks back. A quote:

In a study published online today in the British Medical Journal, scientists from Harvard University and UC San Diego showed that happiness spreads readily through social networks of family members, friends and neighbors.

Knowing someone who is happy makes you 15.3% more likely to be happy yourself, the study found. A happy friend of a friend increases your odds of happiness by 9.8%, and even your neighbor’s sister’s friend can give you a 5.6% boost.

“Your emotional state depends not just on actions and choices that you make, but also on actions and choices of other people, many of which you don’t even know,” said Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis, a physician and medical
sociologist at Harvard who co-wrote the study.

The research is part of a growing trend to measure well-being as a crucial component of public health.
Scientists have documented that people who describe themselves as happy are likely to live longer, even if they have a chronic illness.

I always thought happiness was a choice. The article's implication is that maybe I was wrong. Happiness depends to some extent on who you hang around. Or even who your friends hang around. Happiness is like a virus. If this finding is true, happiness is contagious. I bet depression probably is, too.

Hang around happy and positive people? Get happy and positive.

Hang around depressed and negative people? Well... you know.

Choose.