Is happiness a cause of health?

Happiness and positive moods influence health, and vice versa. A number of social and personality factors influence health directly, for example by affecting health behaviour or the immune system. These factors also affect health indirectly by influencing happiness and moods. These factors include social relationships, exercise and other aspects of leisure, job status and other aspects of work, social class, and several aspects of personality. The evidence on direct and indirect influences of happiness on health is summarised here.