The link between spirituality and happiness is pretty well-established for teens and adults. More spirituality brings more happiness. Now a study has reached into the younger set, finding the same link in "tweens" and in kids in middle childhood.

Specifically, the study shows that children who feel that their lives have meaning and value and who develop deep, quality relationships — both measures of spirituality, the researchers claim — are happier. 

However, religious practices were found to have little effect on children's happiness, Holder said.

However, counterintuitively, religious practices — including attending church, praying and meditating — had little effect on a child's happiness.