The Andalusian Social Survey (ESA) of 2022¹ provides a comprehensive analysis of moments of happiness, social and family interaction, health concerns, and sociodemographic issues in Andalusia. This survey aligns with scientific evidence that highlights the relationship between affective responses, sociability, and health (1–3). In this sense, the ESA is an opportunity to assess the Andalusian population’s happiness and its relation to socialization.

Happiness, a complex concept, has been analyzed in various contexts including philosophy, psychology, physics, and art, leading to diverse interpretations (worldhappiness.report). It’s often compared or contrasted with concepts like virtuous life, subjective well-being, and life satisfaction (4, 5). Happiness is understood as an emotional expression resulting from personal appraisal linked to feelings (6, 7).

Research consulted indicate that happiness is influenced by cultural factors (8, 9) and positively correlates with extroversion (10). Studies show a reciprocal relationship between happiness and social behavior (11, 12), with people feeling happier in the company of acquaintances, friends, or family (13). Experimental studies have shown that improving socialization skills enhances happiness (14), suggesting that more social interaction increases self-reported happiness.

However, measuring happiness has methodological challenges (15). Questionnaire-based assessments should be interpreted carefully, considering participant bias (16). Moreover, well-being and health are correlated with happiness (17). Studies suggest a direct link between social relationships and physical and psychological health (3, 18–20), indicating benefits from emotional control and stress reduction due to socialization.

This study, justified by ESA survey data and scientific interest in happiness, aims to investigate the impact of social interaction on Andalusians’ self-reported happiness. The research also seeks to determine if specific factors are “necessary conditions” for happiness in the Andalusian population. This approach is influenced by the work of Martínez-Falcó et al. (21) and their bibliometric analysis on happiness management, underscoring its social relevance. The study’s objectives are to analyze the role of social interaction in Andalusians’ happiness and to explore the essential conditions for experiencing happiness.

Starting with a descriptive analysis of the variables related to moments of happiness, the analysis revealed a dominant trend toward family relationships as the main source of happiness, with 91.6% of participants identifying it as such. Friendships and health (both physical and appearance) followed in importance with percentages of 46.6 and 41.4%, respectively. Romantic relationships (37.1%) and leisure activities (25.6%) were also considered substantial. Conversely, material possessions and work were less represented, with only 2.46 and 1%, respectively. Based on this data, the rest of the results focus on the three most frequently mentioned moments of happiness: family, social relationships, and health-related topics.

Regarding indicators of sociability level, 27.16% of participants reported contacting between 5 and 9 people in terms of daily interaction, either face-to-face or digitally. The categories of 10–19, less than four, 20–49, and 50 or more people accounted for 25.16, 16.08, 17.82, and 13.06%, respectively. In terms of face-to-face interactions, 34.73% of respondents saw all their daily contacts in person, followed by “most” (27.90%) and “about half” (21.62%). A 15.42% reported low daily face-to-face interaction.

An item of interest is the one that asks about the quality of family relationships. A 94.28% of participants described their relationships as good or very good. 4.82% rated them as fair, and only a small percentage (0.5%) considered them bad or very bad. It is relevant to note that 0.39% reported not having such relationships.

On the other hand, statistically significant differences were observed regarding sex in relation to happiness derived from sharing moments with family [Chi-squared (df = 1) = 23.51; p < 0.001]. Specifically, 47.7% of women reported happiness in these moments, compared to 43.7% of men.

When assessing differences by age, variations were found, although of moderate statistical relevance [Chi-squared (df = 3) = 21.40; p = 0.002]. The over-59 age segment reported the highest proportion of happiness with their family. They are followed, in descending order, by the age groups of 16–35 years (23.9%), 35–47 years (21.2%), and 47–59 years (20.3%). A lower proportion of happiness is noted in the middle-aged adult group.

No significant differences were observed in relation to family happiness when considering the educational level, employment, or income.

The second moment contributing most to happiness is the one shared with friends. Differences were found regarding sex in happiness associated with sharing moments with friends [Chi-squared (df = 1) = 13.247; p < 0.001]. 23.9% of men compared to 22.4% of women expressed happiness in these contexts. By age groups, those aged 16–35 years reported the highest degree of happiness (16.3%), followed by the group aged 35–47 years (10.5%), while older groups reported lower frequencies with highly significant differences Chi-squared (df = 3) =187.95 (p < 0.001).

Noticeable variations were found based on the level of education [Chi-squared (df = 9) = 173.02; p < 0.001], particularly distinctive between primary and secondary education levels. The details and their specifications are presented in Table 2.

As for the occupation, there were statistically significant differences [Chi-square (df = 9) = 52.662; p < 0.001]. Table 2 presents these results, highlighting the divergent perception in the military career in comparison to other occupations, as well as notable trends among technicians, professionals, and office employees.

Regarding the income level, there were also statistically significant differences concerning friendships [Chi-square (df = 8) = 86.023; p < 0.001]. In Table 2, it is observed that respondents who consider friendship as a source of happiness the most are those with higher incomes (over €1,600 per month).

The third moment of happiness is linked to health and physical condition. Significant differences were observed according to sex in relation to happiness derived from health and physical well-being, Chi-square (df = 1) = 18.809 (p < 0.001). Women reported this factor as a reason for happiness to a greater extent (44.4%) compared to men (38.3%).

When evaluating the relationship with age, substantial differences were found [Chi-square (df = 3) = 65; p < 0.001]. The group aged 47–59 years showed the highest percentage considering health and physical condition as a source of happiness (47.5%), followed by those over 59 years (44.6%), the group aged 35–47 years (41.5%), and finally, those under 35 years (32.7%).

No statistically significant differences were recorded in relation to educational level, main occupation, or income level.

Another set of items corresponds to the number and quality of social relationships. The analysis revealed interesting patterns in the number of daily contacts reported by respondents. Women tend to report a medium range of daily contacts (1–9 contacts) more frequently than men. Conversely, a notable percentage of men (7.8%) reported more than 100 daily contacts, suggesting a higher level of social interaction in this group. The differences in the number of daily contacts between sexes were statistically significant [Chi-square (df = 6) = 63.022; p < 0.001].

Significant differences were also found with respect to age [Chi-square (df = 18) = 501.42; p < 0.001]. People aged 59 years or less tend to interact with a range of 10–19 individuals on a daily basis. On the contrary, those over 59 years of age reported that 64.32% maintained fewer than 10 daily contacts.

Similarly, there are statistically significant differences in the number of interactions according to the educational level. The analysis revealed notable differences in the number of daily interactions in relation to the level of education, Chi-square (df = 54) = 343.69 (p < 0.001). Specifically, people with a more basic educational level tend to report fewer daily contacts. Those with a medium educational level, such as secondary education, usually interact with a range of 10–19 people. However, individuals with advanced education levels tend to have more contacts, with frequencies that vary between 20 and 49 daily interactions. It is noteworthy to mention that those categorized under an educational level of “other” predominantly interact with a range of 5–9 people.

There are also statistically significant differences concerning the profession exercised [Chi-square (df = 54) = 168.86; p < 0.001]. Specifically, military personnel report frequent interactions, usually between 20 and 49 people, which aligns with the nature of their responsibilities. In contrast, intellectual professionals, support technicians, office workers, service staff, manufacturing workers, and operators report a more varied range, with daily interactions that can range from 5 to 49 individuals. On the other hand, agricultural workers and those in basic occupations generally connect with a more limited spectrum, between 5 and 19 people daily.

Regarding daily interactions according to the level of monthly income, significant differences were identified in the number of daily interactions based on monthly income levels [Chi-square (df = 36) = 265.56; p < 0.001]. Specifically, a lower income level generally correlates with fewer contacts. However, it is notable to mention that 25.12% of individuals who do not report income indicate having more than 100 daily interactions. On the other hand, middle incomes tend to correspond with a medium number of contacts.

In the next phase of the analysis, the dependent variables were the moments of happiness with family, the ones of happiness with friends, and those related to health. Different logit models were analyzed to estimate to what extent the independent variables of interest may be impacting the dependent variables.

Concerning the moments of happiness with family, two models were proposed for this dependent variable (see Table 3). The results indicate that the variables significantly associated with happiness during family times are the quality of family relationships (termed “relation”) and sex. In contrast, neither the number of contacts nor age proved to have a statistically significant impact on the probability of perceiving family gatherings as moments of happiness.

It can be concluded that Model 2 reflects more accurately the reality for the dependent variable feliz1 (family as a source of happiness) based on its AIC value and the principle of parsimony (see Table 3). Regarding the variable feliz2, which records whether being among friends is a source of happiness, the developed models present similar AIC values (see Table 3), although Model 2 is the most parsimonious. In this model, it stands out again that the number of contacts does not seem to affect the probability of considering meetings with friends as a moment of happiness. On the contrary, this probability is directly linked to age and inversely to the level of education. Additionally, being a woman also increases this probability.

Lastly, moments of happiness related to health and physical condition are negatively linked with age and being female. Thus, the probability of considering this factor as a source of happiness is less likely with increasing age, while it is higher in the case of being male compared to being female.

Finally, an analysis of conditions was performed based on the results of the previously conducted linear regression. A correlation was initially made between the dependent variables (states of happiness with family, with friends, and in relation to health) and the independent variables identified in the regression models. The correlations indicated that:

The remaining correlations exhibited lower coefficients. From this, the following conditioning hypotheses were defined:

The ce_fdh method was applied to calculate the effect of Possible Conditioning, yielding a value of 0 in all cases, indicating that no variable can be considered a necessary condition for the manifestation of states of happiness.

Starting in an orderly manner with the experiences of moments of happiness, the results of the current study highlight the importance of family relationships for the Andalusian population, with older individuals experiencing a higher state of happiness with these relationships. This observation aligns with previous findings that emphasize social support in older adults as a prominent factor of well-being (26).

Regarding the age of the participants, the results clearly indicate that middle age emerges as the segment that perceives the least family happiness. This phenomenon may be due to the professional and domestic demands typical of this life stage (27), suggesting that these responsibilities may attenuate the enjoyment of family moments. However, this interpretation requires a more detailed analysis.

In the same vein, the results show that women express the most happiness in the family. Although this coincides with previous studies regarding overall well-being (28), it contradicts the conclusions of Caballero and Sánchez (29), whose results found no differences between sexes in a sample from the Autonomous Community of Madrid (regional government of Madrid in Spain).

In this regard, it must be considered that cross-cultural studies have revealed differences between countries and cultures (30–33), which raises the question of whether the Andalusian population harbors distinctive cultural peculiarities, or whether underlying socioeconomic causes can be identified to explain these results.

The second set of results are related to the state of happiness that arises from the company of friends. The study reveals that young people are the ones who value these bonds the most, which is consistent with the evolutionary nature of relationships during this stage (34). As Van Zalk et al. (35) explain, during the young adult stage, friendships and peer social relationships can provide valuable emotional support, as well as the opportunity to share interests and common activities, acting as self-reinforcement of one’s own social behavior. In fact, peer interactions during these years seem to be linked to the experience of life satisfaction, mental health, and mental well-being during young adulthood, as research in the area has shown (36).

Regarding profession, the military collective stands out in the professional field, emphasizing friendship as essential for their well-being, corroborating previous research (37).

As for the number of social contacts, the results clearly show that older individuals have fewer daily contacts. This may be due to multiple factors, among others like the decrease in mobility of this segment of the population (an explanation that would only be valid for those individuals with some kind of motor deficit), as well as the reduction of the usual social circle (38, 39).

Within these findings, a complex relationship between educational and economic level with happiness is evident, such that it has been found that individuals with low resources and education exhibit fewer experiences of happiness among friends. In this context, it is noteworthy that previous studies have found that people with lower educational level and economic resources have a smaller number of social contacts (40). These two facts lead to the question of whether belonging to the segment of the population with lower economic capacity and academic training implies having to face certain challenges in accessing social and work spaces where social interactions are richer. And in any case, what impact this has on the well-being of the individual. This observation not only highlights a social reality, but it is also an invitation to question and explore in more depth the dynamics between education, economy, and social relationships.

Regarding the dimension of health and physical condition, it is women, or people with higher socioeconomic status, who express the most happiness. This result contradicts previous studies where no differences were found between men and women in relation to happiness (41, 42) supporting those that do find differences between sexes (see (43)). However, these findings demand more detailed scrutiny, considering the definitional and methodological discrepancies between studies.

In summary, the study coincides with a large part of the consulted literature, where the complexity of happiness as an individual experience is highlighted (see the review by (44)). In this regard, any social intervention must take into account the complexity of the construct itself.

However, all the above is called into question by the Necessary Conditions Analysis. Despite the regression models and initial correlations that suggested the relevance of certain variables as necessary conditions for the emergence of states of happiness, the results of the analysis clearly contradict these expectations. Specifically, the effect size for all the proposed variables was null, which indicates that none of the variables examined can be considered a necessary condition for happiness in the analyzed contexts.

This research prompts a reevaluation of the conventional understanding that social relationships are a primary source of happiness. It suggests a more nuanced exploration of other potential variables and interactions affecting happiness. Echoing Trotsuk and Grebneva (45), happiness is recognized as an interdisciplinary subject, characterized by its conceptual and methodological diversity.

The study uncovers a multifaceted relationship between various factors and the perception of happiness among the Andalusian population. Specifically, it finds that older individuals, particularly within family contexts, report higher happiness levels. This demographic tends to view social support as a crucial well-being component as they age. For women, family relationships emerge as substantial contributors to emotional well-being. In contrast, younger people often derive happiness from friendships, presenting an interesting variation in sources of contentment. Furthermore, the study notes that health and socioeconomic status play pivotal roles in influencing happiness, with women and those of higher socioeconomic status reporting greater levels of happiness, particularly in these areas.

A fundamental conclusion of the study is that there are two major sociodemographic profiles associated with the presence and absence of happy experiences:

Another relevant conclusion is that, despite these results and the concurrence with previous studies, there are not sufficient analytical arguments to consider that none of the factors linked to happiness is an indispensable condition for experiencing it.

In conclusion, the ambiguity surrounding happiness reveals that we are still far from understanding it fully, underscoring from here the need to delve deeper into its multifaceted nature.

Publicly available datasets were analyzed in this study. This data can be found at: https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/servicios/estadistica-cartografia/actividad/detalle/175352.html.

Ethical review and approval was not required for the study on human participants in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. Written informed consent from the patients/ participants or patients/participants’ legal guardian/next of kin was not required to participate in this study in accordance with the national legislation and the institutional requirements.

AM-T: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing. CS: Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing. JM-T: Conceptualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.