Intelligent people are more trusting, Oxford University research says.

The study examined the results of an American social attitudes survey and found those who are more trusting are more likely to have better health and greater happiness.

The findings were published in the journal PLOS ONE.

Lead author Noah Carl, from Oxford University’s department of sociology, said: “This finding supports what other researchers have argued, namely that being a good judge of character is a distinct part of human intelligence.”