Here’s a reason to love your church/synagogue/temple/fill in the blank: New research published in the Journal of Religion and Health says that attending religious services regularly makes you happier! The study (which tracked 93,000 middle-aged women who attended services at least once a week) found that they were 56 percent more likely to high-score on an optimism test, and 22 percent less likely to be depressed. Debate religion all you want, but the mood benefits of that consistent and supportive social connection are pretty undeniable!
MORE: Could Spirituality Make Us Healthier?
