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7mo ago

Study Finds Friendships Crucial for Happiness in Young, Single Adults

Research highlights that friendship satisfaction is the strongest predictor of happiness among single Americans aged 18 to 24.

Two interracial best friends laughing and having a good time together in a studio. The survey, whose respondents were mostly young women, found that friendship was most strongly associated with happiness, more than other factors they measured, including self-esteem, family relationships and personality traits.
Four friends having fun together. Image Credit: Helena Lopes, Pexels

Overview

  • A survey of 1,073 single American adults aged 18 to 24 reveals that those satisfied with their friendships are the happiest.
  • The study identified five key predictors of happiness: friendship satisfaction, family satisfaction, self-esteem, neuroticism, and extraversion.
  • Respondents were divided into five subgroups, with those having high friendship satisfaction and low neuroticism being the happiest.
  • The findings suggest that cultivating meaningful, long-term friendships can significantly enhance well-being in single young adults.
  • Researchers emphasize the need for further studies to determine if friendships cause happiness or if the two are simply correlated.