The Christmas edition of the Economist is always one to cherish. As well as the usual politics, business, finance, science and arts coverage, there are numerous articles of more general interest that appeal to the inquiring mind. A good read, and one that lasts for longer than just the Christmas and New Year's break.
This year's cover story is the incredibly optimistic news that as we age, we get happier. It seems, then, that the Polish saying Starość nie radość ('Old age isn't joy') is somewhat overstated.
This is not, in itself, new news. The BBC covered this in its series on happiness (The Happiness Formula) back in 2006. On the basis of data collected from around the UK, researchers showed that humans reach a low-point with regards their happiness somewhere in their mid-40s, and after that, their happiness levels start to rise.
What makes the Economist's article convincing is the global sample. It is based on research examining happiness in 72 countries around the world. Globally, it seems, the pattern is similar to that which the 2006 UK data shows. We are happy when young, then our happiness declines. The age at which it hits a low point varies from country to country, with Switzerland (35) and Ukraine (62) being the outliers. But the global average is 46; on reaching this age, life gets happier and happier. Hence the Economist's cover caption, Life begins at 46.
Old age, since the Swinging '60s and the dawn of the Permissive Society, has been seen with dread by the young and middle-aged. Now, it seems, we have far less to fear than we had imagined.
My mother (83 and in good physical and fine mental condition) often tells me that "the best is yet to come" on the basis of her own life experience. Thank you! I look forward to it - armed with statistical evidence from around the world that this indeed is the case.
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2 comments:
As quoted by the Economist, “People in their 40s, for instance, often have teenage children. Could the misery of the middle-aged be the consequence of sharing space with angry adolescents? And older people tend to be richer. Could their relative contentment be the result of their piles of cash?” Who are they surveying? I believe the U-bend is a result of compounded pressures placed on people, from sick, elderly and dying parents, through work and children demands. As well, it doesn’t mean that the British are happier than the Chinese or Japanese. It’s probable that the Chinese and Japanese rate themselves that way, perhaps in a more conservative way. Do you agree? So my suggestion is, forget about the statistics, surround yourself with loving family and friends, pursue whatever you enjoy, stay healthy and BE HAPPY!
Merry Christmas Everyone!!
AM
I suppose I can look forward to being miserable when I'm in my late 50's then!
The Christmas Economist has to be a bumper edition to give people enough material to fall asleep to all through the holiday period!
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