* Home * My Feed * Saved The Telegraph (BUTTON) * News * Politics * World * Sport * Technology * Business * Money * Opinion * Obituaries * Travel * Culture * Lifestyle * Women * Family * Health and Fitness * Fashion * Luxury * Cars * Free Mobile App * Jobs * Financial Solutions * Rewards * Events * Dating * Offers * Shop * Garden Shop * Bookshop * Tickets * Puzzles * Fantasy Football * Voucher Codes * Work at The Telegraph * Telegraph Corporate * Search * Video * Rewards * Subscribe now * My Account My details My newsletters Logout Upgrade to Premium * Search * Video * Rewards * Subscribe - 30 days free * Login * Register * Search * Video * Rewards * My Account My details My newsletters Logout The Telegraph * Home * News * Sport * Business (BUTTON) ALL SECTIONS * Lifestyle * Good News * Telegraph * Lifestyle * Good News What’s the secret to happiness? Scientists may have found the answer In association with Seven Seas * * * * Save Blake Lively A very happy Blake Lively smiles during a press conference in Cannes Credit: AFP * Mark Molloy 23 May 2016 • 7:15am (BUTTON) Follow Follow the author of this article * Mark Molloy Follow the topics within this article * Other * International Day of Happiness The pursuit of happiness can be a lifelong search for some - but researchers believe they may have found a key factor in feeling a greater overall sense of wellbeing. Individuals who feel a strong sense of belonging to social groups are much happier people, according to new research by psychologists. Nottingham Trent University researchers found that the more an individual identified with a particular group, such as family, in their local community or through a hobby, the happier they were with their life. revelers Happy revellers Credit: AFP “Our findings suggest that thinking more about one's group life could have significant benefits for an overall sense of wellbeing,” said Dr Juliet Wakefield, a psychologist at Nottingham Trent University. “We tend to identify with groups that share our values, interests and life priorities, as well as those that support us in times of crisis, and we can see how this would link to happiness. Our work taps into knowledge that is deep within all of us, but which we often forget due to the fast-paced and achievement-focused nature of modern life – that to be your best self, you tend to require the support of others.” Pope Francis A smiling Pope Francis Credit: Reuters They studied how 4,000 participants felt connected to certain groups, and then measured the impact this had upon their levels of happiness. She added: “It's important to note that identifying with a group isn't the same as membership, though. You can be a member of a group with which you feel no connection at all. It's that subjective sense of belonging that's crucial for happiness. IFRAME: //giphy.com/embed/BQAk13taTaKYw “Healthcare professionals should encourage people to join groups that they are interested in, or which promote their values and ideals, as well as advising people to maintain association with groups they already belong to. Simple social interventions such as this could in turn help to reduce NHS expenditure and prevent future ill health.” Another study found that intelligent people could be more easily distracted at work. So if you have trouble concentrating at work, it’s probably because of all those amazing ideas you have running through your head. Revealed: The age adults are at their ‘healthiest and happiest’. For healthy living * * * * Follow The Telegraph * Follow on Facebook * Follow on Twitter * Follow on Instagram * Follow on LinkedIn READ MORE ABOUT: * Other * International Day of Happiness * Show more Don't miss 1. Peter Gwyn said he hope this will encourage more female contestants to take part in the show 28 Aug 2018, 12:01am University Challenge to introduce 'gender neutral' questions following complaints from viewers 2. Rory and Rhys on their wedding day 13 Jan 2018, 4:01pm Liberal churches boosted by LGBT weddings as couples join their congregations 3. 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Muhannad points to the shelf where he found the money 30 Jun 2016, 4:08pm Syrian refugee praised after handing in €50,000 he found hidden in donated wardrobe Follow The Telegraph * Follow on Facebook * Follow on Twitter * Follow on Instagram * Follow on LinkedIn Brought to you by Seven Seas 1. Ladies shopping Dress for your style and not your age 2. Man carrying lady on his back What your body really needs at 50 3. Lady meditating outside Beauty starts from within 4. A Boots store 3 for 2 across selected Seven Seas products * Contact us * About us * Rewards * Archive * Reader Prints * Branded Content * Syndication * Guidelines * Privacy * Terms and Conditions * Advertising terms * Fantasy Sport * Voucher codes © Telegraph Media Group Limited 2018 Please support us by disabling your adblocker We've noticed you're adblocking. We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. 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