December 2008 PMID 19056788

Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study.

James H Fowler, Nicholas A Christakis

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Mentions

281
Peak: 12 in May 2024
across 7 sources since Mar 2009

Extended reach

263,302
potential audience

Total likes

184

Video views

432

Mentions per month

Mar 2009 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions consistently emphasize the idea that happiness can be contagious within social networks, illustrating this with phrases like 'happiness is contagious' and 'happiness spreads across 3 degrees of relationship,' which show enthusiasm and focus on social influence. Participants use words like 'support,' 'interesting,' and 'significant,' reflecting both genuine interest and recognition of the study's broader importance.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions express strong support and recognition of the study’s findings on how happiness spreads through social networks.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions reveal high curiosity about the implications of social ties on well-being and happiness.

EngagementHigh engagement

Participants reference specific details of the study, sharing personal reflections and examples, indicating deep engagement.

ImpactHigh impact

The conversations highlight the significance of the study’s findings on social behavior and health, suggesting a high perceived impact.

Abstract in brief

  • This study, based on 20 years of data from the Framingham Heart Study involving nearly 4,800 people, investigates whether happiness can spread through social networks and how social ties influence individual happiness.
  • Findings show that clusters of happy and unhappy individuals exist within the network, and a person's happiness is influenced not only by close friends but also by friends of friends, up to three degrees of separation, with proximity and network centrality increasing the likelihood of being happy.
  • The analysis suggests that happiness spreads through social connections rather than just people choosing similar friends, with evidence indicating that being around happy individuals, such as neighbors or family members, significantly raises the chance of one being happy, highlighting happiness as a collective rather than purely individual trait.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Aline Magalhaes
@alinefortuna2 · X

Formem uma turma bacana no Twitter, deem block sem parcimônia e se puderem, encontrem-se com regularidade pra celebrar de aniversário a festa junina

May 27, 2024 · 120 likes · 5 shares · 8,524 followers View post →
د. عليّ الغامدي
@AliGhamdi2 · X

بحثت دراسة عن تأثير سعادة شخص واحد في أفراد المجتمع الحيط به حيث راقبت مستوى السعادة عند ما يقرب من 5000 شخص على مدى 20 عامًا ، ووجد الباحثون أنه عندما يصبح الفرد سعيدًا ، فإن تأثير ذلك يصل إلى ثلاث درجات من الشبكات الاجتماعية.  أي أن سعادة شخص ما تؤثر https://t.co/ZY3IS09ra6

Mar 5, 2023 · 33 likes · 6 shares · 55,441 followers View post →
Gustavo G. Diez (x)
@gustavodietz · X

Las personas rodeadas de gente feliz tienden a ser felices y tienen más probabilidades de serlo en el futuro porque la felicidad se propaga en red. Este efecto no se explica sólo con la tendencia de las personas a asociarse con individuos similares.. https://t.co/OXTtwHGlgo

May 8, 2022 · 17 likes · 9 shares · 1,713 followers View post →
Leonhard Schilbach
@leoschilbach · X

Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study | The BMJ https://t.co/jNWj3LeJ3N

May 27, 2024 · 4 likes · 5 shares · 6,756 followers View post →
Brad Stulberg
@BStulberg · X

@billymoose “Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study.” “Sitting Near a High-Performer Can Make You Better At Your Job” (Kellogg School of Management.) “I’m sad, you’re sad: emotional contagion in CMC.”

Jan 22, 2024 · 1 like · 93,794 followers View post →
JCM Compounding Knowledge
@JCM_IF · X

Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study @FITrebelde https://t.co/2Fh3C3aqCM

Jan 29, 2024 · 1 like · 3,936 followers View post →

All mentions

Mitsu Health
@MitsuMaHealth · X

Think about this for a moment: In social networks, our friendships can significantly impact our health and well-being. Reflect and ask, how does my circle inspire wellness in me? (Fowler JH, Christakis NA. Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal

Oct 17, 2025 · 493 followers View post →
Mitsu Health
@MitsuMaHealth · X

Think about this for a moment: In social networks, our friendships can significantly impact our health and well-being. Reflect and ask, how does my circle inspire wellness in me? (Fowler JH, Christakis NA. Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal

Oct 17, 2025 · 493 followers View post →
Mitsu Health
@MitsuMaHealth · X

Think about this for a moment: In social networks, our friendships can significantly impact our health and well-being. Reflect and ask, how does my circle inspire wellness in me? (Fowler JH, Christakis NA. Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal

Oct 9, 2025 · 493 followers View post →
HEALTHFOOTPRINTS
@hfp91 · X

Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study | The BMJ https://t.co/l5ZXtTRmyE

Aug 21, 2025 · 282 followers View post →
J. Ashby
@JacAshby · X

If you discuss an article, please cite it. Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study (2008) https://t.co/IzCgrnvRJy https://t.co/GlzjEu7sZ9

Aug 21, 2025 · 220 followers View post →
Tracy Brower
@TracyBrower108 · X

Happiness is contagious in social networks https://t.co/rbiAbbz2Vl

Jan 12, 2025 · 9,343 followers View post →
feLipe torres
@fgtorres · X

RT @alinefortuna2: Formem uma turma bacana no Twitter, deem block sem parcimônia e se puderem, encontrem-se com regularidade pra celebrar d…

May 28, 2024 · 5 shares · 424 followers View post →
Sara Nicolau
@SaraSnicolau · X

RT @leoschilbach: Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study…

May 27, 2024 · 5 shares · 2,683 followers View post →
Clara H. Whyte
@ClaraHWhyte · X

RT @leoschilbach: Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study…

May 27, 2024 · 5 shares · 957 followers View post →
Caio Augusto
@CaioAugstOR · X

RT @alinefortuna2: Formem uma turma bacana no Twitter, deem block sem parcimônia e se puderem, encontrem-se com regularidade pra celebrar d…

May 27, 2024 · 5 shares · 10,076 followers View post →
Marc Tibber
@MarcTibber3 · X

RT @leoschilbach: Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study…

May 27, 2024 · 5 shares · 7,673 followers View post →
Leonhard Schilbach
@leoschilbach · X

RT @leoschilbach: Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study…

May 27, 2024 · 5 shares · 6,756 followers View post →
Prof Sophie Scott CBE
@sophiescott · X

RT @leoschilbach: Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study…

May 27, 2024 · 5 shares · 26,049 followers View post →
Leonhard Schilbach
@leoschilbach · X

Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study | The BMJ https://t.co/jNWj3LeJ3N

May 27, 2024 · 4 likes · 5 shares · 6,756 followers View post →
Boni, aquele geek de TI
@bonigeek · X

RT @alinefortuna2: Formem uma turma bacana no Twitter, deem block sem parcimônia e se puderem, encontrem-se com regularidade pra celebrar d…

May 27, 2024 · 5 shares · 4,332 followers View post →
Casano
@Casano93 · X

RT @alinefortuna2: Formem uma turma bacana no Twitter, deem block sem parcimônia e se puderem, encontrem-se com regularidade pra celebrar d…

May 27, 2024 · 5 shares · 404 followers View post →
Aline Magalhaes
@alinefortuna2 · X

Formem uma turma bacana no Twitter, deem block sem parcimônia e se puderem, encontrem-se com regularidade pra celebrar de aniversário a festa junina

May 27, 2024 · 120 likes · 5 shares · 8,524 followers View post →
Susanne I. Schmidt
@S_I_Schmidt · X

Happiness spreads across 3 degrees of relationship - unhappiness does less so. https://t.co/72RJ4XERIX

May 12, 2024 · 281 followers View post →
JCM Compounding Knowledge
@JCM_IF · X

Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study @FITrebelde https://t.co/2Fh3C3aqCM

Jan 29, 2024 · 1 like · 3,936 followers View post →
Brad Stulberg
@BStulberg · X

@billymoose “Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study.” “Sitting Near a High-Performer Can Make You Better At Your Job” (Kellogg School of Management.) “I’m sad, you’re sad: emotional contagion in CMC.”

Jan 22, 2024 · 1 like · 93,794 followers View post →
tokatti
@tokatti_ · X

高まる より幸福な人とつきあう数を増やすほど、健康にはポジティブな影響が出やすい 悲しい人とつきあう数が増えても影響はない https://t.co/ltdnKnLuX4 #自分用メモ

Jan 1, 2024 · 189 followers View post →
カトウ|幸福学の研究家✖︎著者
@shomabh · X

幸せは周囲の人に伝達します。 まずは自分が楽しく元気に暮らせるように尽力しましょう! Fowler, J. H., and Christakis, N. A. (2008). Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: Longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study. BMJ, 337.

Oct 11, 2023 · 1 like · 745 followers View post →
Heal Research
@HealResearch · X

From: Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study I have to discuss this study in more detail when I have the opportunity, it's very interesting.

Sep 15, 2023 · 77 followers View post →
Sandip Roy
@DrSandipRoy · X

Study: Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study https://t.co/idwrbSRN3I

Sep 7, 2023 · 2,915 followers View post →
أسماء البيز
@ASALBaiz · X

RT @AliGhamdi2: بحثت دراسة عن تأثير سعادة شخص واحد في أفراد المجتمع الحيط به حيث راقبت مستوى السعادة عند ما يقرب من 5000 شخص على مدى 20 عا…

Mar 10, 2023 · 6 shares · 278 followers View post →
Zeinab Alishaq ~ أ. زينب آل إسحاق
@ZeinabAlishaq · X

RT @AliGhamdi2: بحثت دراسة عن تأثير سعادة شخص واحد في أفراد المجتمع الحيط به حيث راقبت مستوى السعادة عند ما يقرب من 5000 شخص على مدى 20 عا…

Mar 5, 2023 · 6 shares · 224 followers View post →
وفاء الباز - Wafa Albaz
@AlbazWafa · X

RT @AliGhamdi2: بحثت دراسة عن تأثير سعادة شخص واحد في أفراد المجتمع الحيط به حيث راقبت مستوى السعادة عند ما يقرب من 5000 شخص على مدى 20 عا…

Mar 5, 2023 · 6 shares · 4,260 followers View post →
(أنيفس)
@tmra_94 · X

RT @AliGhamdi2: بحثت دراسة عن تأثير سعادة شخص واحد في أفراد المجتمع الحيط به حيث راقبت مستوى السعادة عند ما يقرب من 5000 شخص على مدى 20 عا…

Mar 5, 2023 · 6 shares · 33 followers View post →
د. عليّ الغامدي
@AliGhamdi2 · X

بحثت دراسة عن تأثير سعادة شخص واحد في أفراد المجتمع الحيط به حيث راقبت مستوى السعادة عند ما يقرب من 5000 شخص على مدى 20 عامًا ، ووجد الباحثون أنه عندما يصبح الفرد سعيدًا ، فإن تأثير ذلك يصل إلى ثلاث درجات من الشبكات الاجتماعية.  أي أن سعادة شخص ما تؤثر https://t.co/ZY3IS09ra6

Mar 5, 2023 · 33 likes · 6 shares · 55,441 followers View post →
Nessun Dorma
@357NessunDorma · X

RT @gustavodietz: Las personas rodeadas de gente feliz tienden a ser felices y tienen más probabilidades de serlo en el futuro porque la fe…

May 11, 2022 · 9 shares · 14 followers View post →
pio
@18182627 · X

RT @gustavodietz: Las personas rodeadas de gente feliz tienden a ser felices y tienen más probabilidades de serlo en el futuro porque la fe…

May 11, 2022 · 9 shares · 12 followers View post →
Raquel Mouro
@mouro22 · X

RT @gustavodietz: Las personas rodeadas de gente feliz tienden a ser felices y tienen más probabilidades de serlo en el futuro porque la fe…

May 9, 2022 · 9 shares · 35 followers View post →
Instituto de Investigación y Formación
@NirakaraOrg · X

RT @gustavodietz: Las personas rodeadas de gente feliz tienden a ser felices y tienen más probabilidades de serlo en el futuro porque la fe…

May 9, 2022 · 9 shares · 3,733 followers View post →
Rosa Lopez
@rosabuendia1313 · X

RT @gustavodietz: Las personas rodeadas de gente feliz tienden a ser felices y tienen más probabilidades de serlo en el futuro porque la fe…

May 9, 2022 · 9 shares · 230 followers View post →
MariAnto Sánchez Del Hierro
@mariantosdh · X

RT @gustavodietz: Las personas rodeadas de gente feliz tienden a ser felices y tienen más probabilidades de serlo en el futuro porque la fe…

May 8, 2022 · 9 shares · 651 followers View post →
claimshero.eth
@claimshero__eth · X

RT @gustavodietz: Las personas rodeadas de gente feliz tienden a ser felices y tienen más probabilidades de serlo en el futuro porque la fe…

May 8, 2022 · 9 shares · 127 followers View post →
Consulta Familiar
@ConsultaFamili · X

RT @gustavodietz: Las personas rodeadas de gente feliz tienden a ser felices y tienen más probabilidades de serlo en el futuro porque la fe…

May 8, 2022 · 9 shares · 1,107 followers View post →
Pablo Castañeda
@Smart_Sapiens · X

RT @gustavodietz: Las personas rodeadas de gente feliz tienden a ser felices y tienen más probabilidades de serlo en el futuro porque la fe…

May 8, 2022 · 9 shares · 3,417 followers View post →
Gustavo G. Diez (x)
@gustavodietz · X

Las personas rodeadas de gente feliz tienden a ser felices y tienen más probabilidades de serlo en el futuro porque la felicidad se propaga en red. Este efecto no se explica sólo con la tendencia de las personas a asociarse con individuos similares.. https://t.co/OXTtwHGlgo

May 8, 2022 · 17 likes · 9 shares · 1,713 followers View post →
さかい(Ph.D.)
@3or1chan · X

幸福は人に伝わる。 2008年のカリフォルニア大とハーバード大の研究によると幸せは伝染すると言う研究結果が得られている。 確かに笑顔の人がいるとこちらまで幸せな気持ちになってくる。 笑顔で仕事が出来れば周りも笑顔になってくる。 #for40s https://t.co/UEYMtYQmF8

Jan 10, 2022 · 1,740 followers View post →
Giacomo Falchetta
@giacfalk.bsky.social · Bluesky

Consider the study "Research Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study". Arguments which in informal discussions are often undervalued / labelled 'naive', but instead tell a lot

Jul 2, 2020 View post →
Gideon Jethro Remfry
@GideonRemfry · X

#HAPPINESS "People’s happiness depends on the happiness of others with whom they are connected. This provides further justification for seeing happiness, like health, as a collective phenomenon." REF: 20 year Framingham Heart Study BMJ 2008; 337 doi: https://t.co/yp886ErXVs https://t.co/4AFCwOfuPI

Jun 28, 2019 · 1 like · 1,610 followers View post →
Amit Kumar
@akumar.me · Bluesky

Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart... http://ff.im/-1P6fZ

Mar 30, 2009 View post →