There are few things better in this life than having a sister. If you don't believe me, you can ask around and confirm this yourself.

We all agree that a sister will sometimes drive you insane. She will take your stuff without asking permission, say mean things to you, and tell you truths you don't want to hear. So, we totally understand that sisters can be annoying.

But also, she is the person you turn to when you need a loving non-judgmental friend.

When you need someone to play with or someone to do you a very personal favor, you can always count on your sister. The list of amazing things only sisters can do for you is extensive and endless.

You Can Get Help From A Sister Without Feeling Indebted

How many friends can offer you the same benefit? If you are very very lucky, then very few.

And now, it turns out that there are additional benefits to having a sister you might not have known about. Apparently, this sibling can also help improve your mental health.

How, You Ask?

Here's how scientists stumbled upon this intriguing fact. At Brigham Young University, a study was done that revealed that having a sibling engendered feelings of kindness towards others. People with siblings were also more helpful.

Another thing they discovered was that having a sister had additional benefits, and the age gap didn't even matter.

Alex Jensen, an assistant professor at the School of Family Life at BYU had this to say about having a sister:

"What we know suggests that sisters play a role in promoting positive mental health."

It was also discovered that the presence of a sister in your life increased kindness and the willingness to be a more giving person.

But how do sisters do this?

This should be pretty obvious, right? Sisters promote positive social behaviors such as compassion when they show love and affection.

Does This Mean Brothers Don't Matter?

During the study, it was also discovered that regardless of age or gender, siblings who love each other have a positive impact on each other.

"Sibling affection from either gender was related to less delinquency and more pro-social behaviors like greater kindness and generosity, volunteering, and helping others.

Even if there is a little bit of fighting, as long as they have affection, the positive will win out. If siblings get in a fight, they have to regulate emotions. That's an important skill to learn for later in life."

So, there you have it.

Having a loving sibling helps. But having a sister makes you extra lucky in that you get to enjoy better mental health in addition to learning important life skills like compassion and generosity.

So, it's time you picked up that phone and called your sister to let her know how much she means to you. It'll make her day better, and yours too.