Having a sister can actually make you a happier person, says study

Having a sister is actually good for your well-being

For those of us lucky enough to have sisters, we know the waves of benefits that come from having one, but now it's been scientifically proven.

The study highlighted the fact that people who have sisters are actually happier.

Researchers from De Montfort University in Leicester and the University of Ulster surveyed over 570 people aged between 17 and 25.

They were asked psychological questions on various topics, including mental health.

The findings discovered that those people who had sisters felt more encouraged to talk about their feelings, making them more "optimistic."

Speaking about the study, Professor Tony Cassidy said:

"Sisters appear to encourage more open communication and cohesion in families. However, brothers seem to have the opposite effect.

"Emotional expression is fundamental to good psychological health, and having sisters promotes this in families. It could be that boys have a natural tendency not to talk about things.

"With boys together, it is about a conspiracy of silence not to talk. Girls tend to break that down."

So there you have it, your sisters are helping you, even when they're driving you mad.