Posted on 08/15/2007 1:10:15 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
Some might say that all they have to worry about is getting to work on time and the onset of a little middle-aged spread.
But men in their late-30s and early-40s are the least content of all of us, it seems.
Whether they are mourning the passing of their prime or struggling to cope with the demands of a job and young family, those aged 35-44 invariably hit a mid-life crisis when their happiness level plunges lower than at any other age, according to a study for the Government.
It makes them the least satisfied members of society, scoring well below teenagers, the elderly - and women of all ages.
Researchers found that it takes men until they reach the age of 65 to start enjoying life as much as they did in their late-teens and early-20s.
More than 1,600 people were asked to score their wellbeing on a scale of one to ten in the study, part of the British Market Research Bureau survey of Britons' attitudes towards themselves,
The overall average satisfaction level for both sexes was 7.3.
Most men rated their carefree teenage years between the age of 16-24 as one if their happiest periods, with an average score of 7.55 out of ten.
But halfway through their careers, satisfaction levels dipped to a low of 6.8, only rising again to nearly 7.8 once they had crested retirement age.
The report found that women are less buoyant in their teens than men, rating their wellbeing at 7.3 out of ten.
Women said their worst years were between the age of 25 and 34, when most are coping with young children, but their wellbeing rose steadily as they got older, reaching hit a peak satisfaction level of 7.65 when over the age of 65.
Researchers found that most people rated their time at universityas the best years of their life, closely followed by their retirement years.
The biggest difference between the sexes was in the contentment of those not working, with women far happier than men to stay at home not seeking work.
Overall, 74 per cent of the UK population reported that they feel positive about themselves.
But women are more likely to fret, with almost half admitting that they worry a lot, compared to less than a third of men.
Nope. Not till after after the kids are grown, the mortgage is paid for, and you can retire.
(Or so I’ve been told)
At 42 healed myself that way...bought my deuce
41.
Pretty friggin happy for the most part. Job burn out but what you gonna do? Pays the bills, but we have no kids and wont be having them.
Finally have income to spend on all the things I enjoy.
Only thing that bums me out is our puny human lifespans.
I want a few millenia, like those highlander guys!
Bought it at age 38...
This is the age Rodney Dangerfield quit selling aluminum siding.
It’s the recognition that all that “youth” stuff is going away, that the peak of debt has hit, that life truly is finite after all, responsibility has taken over nearly every waking moment, and that there’s too much baggage (emotional, legal and physical) to just take off for new adventures.
It’s the realization that whatever you did wrong you wish you had done right, and what you did right you wish you’d done a little more wrong.
It’s that you have too much to lose: financial risks, motorcycle racing, world travel on a shoestring, combat, chasing tail, etc. are past being options for testing oneself and winning (or losing) big.
At 39, I know of what I speak.
Stop tempting me.
I turned 34 not too long ago, not too long ago I saw my first gray hairs in my stubble. Life is now over.
Yes, when you hit 65 you can get senior citizen discounts at the movies!
Maybe it’s because at about age 40 you figure out that white males aged 40 are the most discriminated against age group in America.....
Your reality is the meaning you give any situation. I am actually looking forward to turning 40 and I am focusing on all that I have accomplished which is about everything I really wanted in life.
My current focus is trying to understand what I now want to attract into my life in the next 15 years.
For me, those years were the best of times and the worst of times. All of my kids were getting old enough to start playing sports and get into other activities and I really enjoyed getting involved with that. But on the other side of the coin, the pressure of providing for my family, working two jobs, living paycheck to paycheck, sucked! :-)
I’m 51 now, my daughter is on her own, my oldest son is starting his second year of college and my youngest is in his senior year of high school. My wife and are enjoying ourselves and although we’re still living paycheck to paycheck, we’re handling things better, or can it be we’re just burnt-out! :-)
LOL, who knows, maybe if you can make it a another several decades medical technology will catch up. :p
After punching a clock for 31 years as well as running a sideline business, I retired from my job last month to pay full attention to my web design business. Man, am I happy!!!!
Good for you.
I was 48 when I decided to drop 40 pounds.
Wish I had done that years ago.
Yep, 40 hit and I found I’m not getting any better looking, and I’m not where I hoped I would be as far as a career.
I just turned 30.
It kinda hit me hard.
I chose to give myself a child.... nice bike though..
Wow-you really hit it on the head.
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