There is no such thing as being "happy-go-lucky", a new study suggests, with those who believe in luck more likely to be unhappy.

       In a scientific experiment with more than 800 students at a university in Hong Kong, researchers from the University of Bath found that people who believe in the concept of "luck" – a random phenomenon over which they have no control – are often pessimistic and negative.

       Participants were asked questions such as: "Some people are generally very happy. They enjoy life regardless of what is going on, getting the most out of everything. To what extent does this characterisation describe you?"

       Individuals who consider themselves "lucky" were more likely to describe themselves as happy. This, the researchers say, undermines the term "happy-go-lucky".

       "We thus find no evidence that the 'happy' in fact 'go lucky' in the sense of believing in luck. To the contrary, a belief in luck would seem to be a trait manifesting itself as an element of neuroticism and its suite of negative and maladaptive psychology traits that are linked to unhappiness," the researchers wrote.

       "Taken together, these findings could lend support to a more accurate if less elegant aphorism that, broadly, though luck believers aren't happy those who believe themselves lucky are."

       ‘Count your blessings’ would seem to be right

       Prof Edmund Thompson, of University of Bath School of Management, who led the team of international researchers, said: "Those who irrationally believe in luck as an agentic phenomenon would appear to do so because they are by disposition more neurotic, pessimistic and negative.

       "These are personality traits long associated with lower levels of life satisfaction, well-being and happiness.

       "However, those who think they are fortunate because things have luckily turned out well for them, often by complete accident rather than purposeful design, generally believe this because they have characteristics disposing them to objectivity, logic and gratitude, personality traits found broadly to be linked to higher happiness levels.

       "When it comes to happiness, the saying that the happy go lucky may be wrong, but the expression 'count your blessings' would seem to be quite right."

       The study has been included in the Current Psychology journal.