The formula for happiness? Married, upper class women who think they're attractive have the highest life satisfaction, scientists say

How happy are you with your life? 

If the answer is 'very', there's a high chance you're a married, upper class woman who thinks she's attractive. 

That's according to researchers from York University, who have revealed the key factors that contribute to happiness. 

While previous research has suggested that money is linked with happiness, the new study indicates that this is not always the case. 

'Although income definitely plays a role, it's certainly not the only factor or even the most important one,' the researchers wrote. 

Researchers from York University have revealed the key factors that contribute to happiness

In the study, the researchers set out to understand which variables lead to the highest degree of life satisfaction.  

Over 12,000 participants were enlisted for the study, including working and non-working adults aged 25-64. 

Participants were surveyed across a range of categories, including family, work, education, social interests, social class, income and life satisfaction. 

'We wanted to look at several factors that could influence life satisfaction, not just one factor, like income, work or family life, independent of the other influences,' said the researchers, led by Professor James Chowhan. 

'Our study is unique in its comprehensiveness, but also that it looks at non-working adults alongside working adults without treating them as a niche category.' 

One of the most surprising findings was the importance physical appearance plays in life satisfaction, according to the researchers. 

'Although others may rate someone highly attractive, what matters more is how satisfied a person is with their own appearance, something that could be more difficult today in a world of social influencers and social media in which appearance has an outsized role,' the team said in a statement. 

How happy are you with your life? If the answer is 'very', there's a high chance you're a married, upper class woman who thinks she's attractive (stock image)

READ MORE: Women of all ages who receive hugs are more likely to be satisfied with their relationships, study shows 

Women who receive more embraces, cuddles and touches are more likely to be satisfied with their relationship (File photo)

Family time, being part of a community outside of work, and having people to depend on were also found to have a high impact on life satisfaction. 

And while income did play a role, it was not the most important one.  

'Often in the literature, we see income is really important, or your work is really important, but it was really these family social factors that had the higher magnitudes of importance,' Professor Chowhan explained. 

'In our study, we found that work gets a low value relative to family and social outcomes. 

'It's not that all aspects of work rated poorly, but overall family and community dominated.'

Social class was another substantial determinant of how satisfied people are with their lives.  

'You could be making what would be considered a great salary or wage anywhere else in the country, but in these big cities, you feel like you're only middle class,' Professor Chowhan said. 

'The higher you rate yourself in terms of social class, the higher your life satisfaction, but also, the gap between the lowest class and upper class is huge. 

'If you move from the lowest class to the upper class, that's just a massive jump in life satisfaction.'

Quality of health, meanwhile, was found to play a large role in life satisfaction. 

'The extent to which you rate your overall health as excellent really contributes to your life satisfaction,' Professor Chowhan add.

Being married or living in common law was also a plus on the life satisfaction scale compared to being widowed, separated or single. 

Additionally, women were happier with their lives that men.  

'Best case scenario for the highest life satisfaction?' the researchers concluded. 

'You are married, happy with your personal appearance, have good family and community support, have excellent health, and consider yourself upper class.'