Despite weighty concerns such as aging, planning for retirement or caring for older friends and family, people in the U.S. seem to get happier with age. A new study reports that these changes are consistent regardless of whether individuals were employed, had young children at home or lived with a partner.
General well-being (characterized by how people currently felt about their life) fell sharply through the age of 25 and tapered more gradually overall until the ages of 50 to 53. And by the early 70s, that wellbeing was back up to late-teen levels.
"As people age, they are less troubled by stress
and anger," the researchers noted in their study, which was led by
Arthur Stone, of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at
Stony Brook University, and published online May 17 in the Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences. "And although worry persists,
without increasing, until middle age, " they continued, "it too fades
after the age of 50."
To read the full, original article click on this link: Observations: It's getting better all the time: Happiness, well-being increase after 50
Author: Katherine Harmon
