We are accustomed to consider youth as carefree, mature age as active and full of self-confidence, and older years as a time of wisdom with a “bitterness” of sadness. However, in our 40s and 50s, we are much more anxious and unhappy than it seems from the outside. But ahead of many of us are the joys of those over 65.
The British National Statistics Office (ONS) recently published the results of a large-scale survey in which more than 300 people took part.1. The researchers asked British people to rate their levels of anxiety and well-being, and how happy they feel, on a 10-point scale (from lowest to highest).
It is easy to guess that a very high level of happiness was recorded among the youngest respondents – aged 16 to 19 years. They scored a little less than 8 points on this indicator. And they also showed a very low level of anxiety and anxiety – less than 3 points. But the most surprising thing is that in both of these categories, the young Britons became only the second. And the first place in both cases went to people aged 65 to 74! Thus, it was the retirement age that turned out to be the “age of happiness” – at least for the British.
But the representatives of that very active and self-confident mature age turned out to be the most unhappy. Participants aged 40–59 showed the highest levels of anxiety and rated their psychological well-being the lowest. Commenting on these data, the authors of the study name several possible reasons for this picture.
First of all, they pay attention to the growing life expectancy and the shift in the timing of the birth of children towards an older age. These two factors work together against 40-50-year-olds. Now people in adulthood are increasingly in the grip of a double burden. On the one hand, they continue to raise children who have not yet risen to their feet. And on the other hand, care for elderly parents also falls on their shoulders. All this together seriously affects the feeling of happiness and well-being.
Economic reasons may also play an important role. It is at the age of 40–50 that people today are most burdened with serious credit obligations. And age, together with the difficult situation on the labor market, leaves less and less hope that in the event of a job loss, they will be able to easily find a new one – at least, a decently paid one. All this really can not but give rise to anxiety.
But for older people, most of these experiences are in the past. And if young people are worried about their studies, future careers and romantic relationships, then people over 60 show enviable life satisfaction. However, after the age of 75, indicators of happiness and well-being gradually decline, and the level of anxiety also gradually increases. This is probably due to the deterioration of health and thoughts about the approaching finale. And yet: even participants aged 90 and over, according to the survey, feel much happier and much less prone to anxiety and anxiety than respondents 40-59 years old.
1 For more information see ons.gov.uk
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