The number of social hours needed for a boost in happiness drops with age, according to a US survey.

The seniors, 65 years old and up, only need to spend about three hours a day socializing with family and friends to boost their happiness by around 20 percent, the survey found. But for Americans 30 years old and younger, at least six hours of social time is needed to feel the same wellness boost.

The new Gallup analysis gathered data from a random sample of 31,486 U.S. adults who were interviewed via home and mobile phones. Results were weighted by gender, age, race, ethnicity, education, region and other demographic characteristics to approximate the general U.S. population, reports LiveScience.com.

Studies have shown that social time is important for everyone regardless of age and gender. Research has also shown that a healthy social life can even decrease the risk of Alzheimer's and other mental issues among the elderly.

But the recent survey showed that while it is important for the young and the elder ones, the time needed for socializing vary by age groups.

LiveScience reports that on average, according to the survey, Americans spend 6.6 hours a day socializing with friends or family. Young adults from 18 to 20 years old spend 8.1 hours a day socializing, while only 5.7 hours a day is spent by those ages 65 and older, as the figure drops gradually with age.

Further, the survey notes 67 per cent of seniors who spent three hours a day socializing the day before the survey reported a high level of wellness at the time. Only 33 per cent of 18- to 29-year-olds who socialized for three hours the day before the survey reported the same level of wellness.

Forty-four percent of seniors who had not socialized in any way the day before the survey reported a stress-free wellness level, compared with only 26 per cent of the younger age bracket.

Gallup notes that for the younger ones to get the 23 per cent happiness boost that seniors experienced with three social hours, individuals from 18 to 29 years old would have to socialize for over six hours a day.

"It may be comforting to know that Americans' emotional state does not necessarily suffer as the average time they spend daily in the company of others declines with age," Gallup reported, noting a consistent feedback from previous reports in which adults showed resilience in social interaction as they grow older.

This means the grandchildren do not have to do much to keep their grams and gramps happy. A little social time a day could go a long way in keeping the seniors' wellness level every day.