Women with a sister are happier

Sisters. I could always be jealous of friends with sisters. Painting nails together, flipping through magazines, talking about love and especially, the paradise: borrowing each other's clothes. Once, my clothing allowance was three. Luckily, I had the advantage of having a very stylish mother with the same clothing and shoe size, but still, but still. Rummaging and browsing through your sister's closet, delightful. Or going on vacation together. Okay okay okay, that she flirts with your boyfriend and has secretly worn your new dress before you did, I'll just forget that for the story.

A brother also has his advantages. My brother and I rarely fought. I always sat obediently on the couch with his legs on my lap watching North and South. He brought handsome friends into the living room (never did anything with them by the way, quite a shame) and I always had my personal bodyguard with me when going out.

In short, I don't complain, but research from Montfort University and Ulster University shows that women with sisters are happier, more optimistic, and kinder than women without sisters. Why? Women talk, challenge each other to share their emotions. This leads to more balanced moods with the added effect that you become happier (and thus kinder) and more optimistic.

So if you find your sister blood- blood- blood-irritating or if, like me, you sometimes go crazy from the bickering of your daughters, you should think that it’s all for a good reason. That also falls under sharing emotions, you see. A nicer person. That's what we become. So they say.