Study: The key to 'sustained happiness' is religion

prayer hands
(Image credit: Patrick Hertzog/AFP/Getty Images)

If you're looking to glean long-term happiness from a social activity, don't turn to volunteer work. A study by researchers at the London School of Economics and Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands found that the secret to sustained happiness actually lies in participation in a religious organization.

Out of four categories of social activities — which included volunteering or charitable work, taking educational or training courses, participating in religious organizations, and participating in political or community organizations — participation in religious organizations was "the only social activity associated with sustained happiness." Researchers noted, however, that it is unclear whether the benefits of participating in a religious organization are linked to being in the religious community, or to the faith itself.

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