Happy Factors: A Mix of Nature and Nurture

Ever wondered what makes some people happier than others? It’s not just about how we are born or where we grow up. Scientists are diving deeper to figure out how relationships, loneliness, and trust add up to happiness, and if our genes or surroundings have a say in it. Interestingly, many studies might have missed the fact that genes and environment could be playing tricks with the results. A recent study decided to look into this more closely. Researchers wanted to know if our happiness depends on how we get along with others and how we handle relationship hiccups—both now and in the future. They focused on things like how happy we are in relationships, if we feel lonely, how we bond with others, and if we trust people. Surprise, surprise! These factors were indeed influenced by both our genes and the world around us. And here’s the thing: these factors could even predict our happiness right away and six years later. This means our social experiences and how we see them can have a big impact on our joy. But there’s more. These factors can also be shaped by shared genetics and environment, which affects how we interact with each other. Pretty cool, right?