Happiness Is U-Shaped
Happiness is U-shaped, for we are happiest at the start and end of our lives but hit a slump when we are middle-aged, British and US researchers say.
Economists from the University of Warwick, central England, and from Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, looked at data on the mental health of two million people from 80 countries.
In Britain, the probability of depression for men and women peaks at around 44 years of age, Warwick University said in a press release.
In the United States, though, there was a big difference between men and women.
Among women, unhappiness peaked at around the age of 40, whereas among men, it was about 50.
But the U-shape of happiness is constant around the world, and mid-life depression occurs regardless of marital status, changes in job or income or offspring.
The study appears in Social Science & Medicine, published by the Dutch publishing house Elsevier.
“Some people suffer more than others but in our data the average effect is large,” said co-author Andrew Oswald.
“It happens to men and women, to single and married people, to rich and poor, and to those with and without children. Nobody knows why we see this consistency.”
The dip in mental health comes on slowly, rather than a big slide in a single year.
“Only in their 50s do most people emerge from the low period. But encouragingly, by the time you are 70, if you are physically fit then on average you are as happy and mentally healthy as a 20-year-old,” said Oswald.
“Perhaps realising that such feelings are completely normal in midlife might even help individuals survive this phase better.”
(AFP)
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I think they’re right. Looking back I was a little late on getting to the emergence from the low period. Not to say there was a low period that I was aware of at the time. But the past few years, life is good. The only problem is, they’re too well. They’re up to something. Someday someone’s going to come to the door and say, “all of this was meant for everyone else, not you”. I’m joking, I’m joking. Fuck it, I guess it’s my turn, finally.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:37 amSo I can be happy again?
January 30th, 2008 at 7:57 amWOW! Guys! And I’ve been silent these last few months about the wave of “depression” I’ve been dealing with (Christmas was THE worst! And this winter sucks dead donkey dick!)
Besides the debt we are carrying, and I have always generally been able to shrug off as managing it okay, I really don’t have a damn thing to be down about (healthy happy kids who are either living their career dream or turbo-thrusting toward it in college) … other than looking the big 5-0 in the damn face in a couple months … THAT’s what’s hurt. I don’t feel or look 50. And I know it’s just a number. But cripes!
January 30th, 2008 at 8:40 amBTW -
In discussing this with my doc at my “You’re gonna be 50 you know” physical a couple months ago, he suggested the daily anti-depressants. I told him everyone I knew was either on them … or SHOULD be on them, and I wasn’t joining the ranks.
So, I’ve been self-medicating with high-powered green tea, vitamins, exercise, Robert Plant music … and thank Christ for surfing videos on youtube!
January 30th, 2008 at 9:12 amYo, drillanwr,
And you did exactly the right thing.
In stead of also taking anti-depressants, you decided that “the glass wasn’t half empty, it was halfe full”.
)
(With water I’d recommend, althought a straight wiskey every now and then won’t do any harm as long as you don’t drink the latter like it is water
What kind of doctor is that, offering pills like it’s candy? The way you resolved it is far more better and healty.
I’ll turn 45 comming september. I never felt so balanced in my life as right now.
Also, I don’t listen nor believe stupid research like this anymore. On it’s own, that is already improving my bloodpressure to stay at a good level.
Women over 40 are supposed to be “middle-aged”. Well, I just started my 4th puberty in a row and I’m getting better and better at it
For example;
January 30th, 2008 at 1:39 pmTommorow “my guys” (the whole Regiment) will be back in full strength since July last year.
I can handle it (and them). Question is; can they handle me?