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Why the late-30s are a man's misery years
This is London ^

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: genx; men
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To: ctdonath2

I turn 40 tomorrow. I feel your pain.


61 posted on 08/15/2007 1:54:56 PM PDT by Warhammer (This is my opinion, freely offered, and worth what you paid for it.)
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To: Triggerhippie
"It doesn't get any better?"

It gets worse. I just turned 44 and not only do I require more stimulation now days but I recently had to get glasses so I can read. :-(

62 posted on 08/15/2007 1:57:23 PM PDT by expatguy (New and Improved ! - Support "An American Expat in Southeast Asia")
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To: null and void
Hahahahahahaha

Yep. lol

63 posted on 08/15/2007 1:58:53 PM PDT by processing please hold (Duncan Hunter '08) (ROP and Open Borders-a terrorist marriage and hell's coming with them)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Maybe they should get together and compare notes?


64 posted on 08/15/2007 2:00:38 PM PDT by null and void (I hate to suggest something this radical, but why not let the policy follow the facts? ~ReignOfError)
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To: Triggerhippie

Two years ago, when I was 39, I saw my 10 year old’s skateboard laying on the side of the driveway. Remembering my teen years I decided to give it a try for old times sake. I went down the driveway 4 times with no problem and felt it was coming back to me. Feeling a little cocky I decided to “try something”....

I ended up doing a belly flop in the driveway with my arms slapping the blacktop. I ended up with both elbows broken. It took me six weeks to feel OK. A whole year to feel normal again.

Now when I look at the kids skateboard all I see is the symbol of my lost youth. I would like to try it again but visions of myself trying to wipe my a$$ with two broken elbows keep haunting me.


65 posted on 08/15/2007 2:01:08 PM PDT by toast
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To: cll
There's a cure:

Put something exciting between your legs...

66 posted on 08/15/2007 2:01:55 PM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker (After six years of George W. Bush I long for the honesty and sincerity of the Clinton Administration)
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To: toast
That's when you find out who your friends really are...
67 posted on 08/15/2007 2:03:06 PM PDT by null and void (I hate to suggest something this radical, but why not let the policy follow the facts? ~ReignOfError)
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To: ctdonath2

Well said.

I’m soon to be 36, and I cannot afford to be as carefree as my youthful days. Hell, I just blinked, and now I have a wife, 2 kids, a home w/ a second mortgage, a dog, and what seems to be an increasing amount of debt....when did this all happen?

However, as much as I’d like to complain, I still have it better than many other people.

(must keep repeating)
(must keep repeating)
(must keep repeating)

:-)


68 posted on 08/15/2007 2:03:23 PM PDT by dave k (Unplug the spin machine...)
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To: toast
Now when I look at the kids skateboard all I see is the symbol of my lost youth.

I dunno, I got tired of road rash from wipeouts in high school in the 70's.

69 posted on 08/15/2007 2:03:43 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Our man in washington
I started taking piano lessons in January. I found I’m not too old to learn something new.

That's the best thing I've read today. I'm 37 now and over the years it has always been my way to stop what I'm doing, where I'm going and change directions. Someting new, different, challenging. It gets trickier as one's responsibilities increase.

Ever notice how quickly time passes now that you are in a routine? I'll bet that those piano lessons add alot of time to your week.

Myself, I'm looking at the banjo...

70 posted on 08/15/2007 2:03:56 PM PDT by NativeSon (off the Rez without a pass...)
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To: Farmer Dean
Getting older isn’t all that bad.I find that I can do things at 55 that I never could do at 25.Like find 40 year old women attractive.

When I was 25 I didn't think 40 year old men were unattractive. Now if you'd have said 60' or 70's lol (when I was 25)

I don't think it's all that bad either. I have noticed I don't chop as much wood as I once did. :)

71 posted on 08/15/2007 2:04:03 PM PDT by processing please hold (Duncan Hunter '08) (ROP and Open Borders-a terrorist marriage and hell's coming with them)
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To: Warhammer

I turn 83 pretty soon, and I don’t know what you all are talking about. I’m about as happy as I’ve ever been, have lots of friends of all ages, am still learning new things, (just got myself a “Blackjack” phone with a Qwerty keyboard), and I don’t belong to one senior group or take bus trips anywhere. And by the way, my 85 year old sister teaches a computer class. Life is good!


72 posted on 08/15/2007 2:04:28 PM PDT by MondoQueen
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To: processing please hold
Getting older sure does beat the hell out of the alternative though.

I have to tell myself that every birthday.

73 posted on 08/15/2007 2:04:36 PM PDT by garbanzo (Government is not the solution to our problems. Government is the problem.)
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To: Responsibility2nd
My girlfriend tried to figure me out. But she couldn’t.

Neither could my wife.

I hope that wasn't at the same time.

74 posted on 08/15/2007 2:06:20 PM PDT by rabscuttle385 (Sic Semper Tyrannis * U.Va. Engineering '09 * Friends Don't Let Friends Vote Democrat * Fred in 2008)
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To: cll

Bought my Triumph at 44


75 posted on 08/15/2007 2:06:20 PM PDT by demsux
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To: null and void

My wife is great, but there are some things even she will not do.


76 posted on 08/15/2007 2:07:02 PM PDT by toast
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To: BearCub
Ohhhh ... drool .... I had my eye on a RANS S-12 Airaile until I caught the article about the S-11 Pursuit.

The two prototypes crashed and Randy never continued with the design... back to the S-12 .... I hope I can get a physical once I'm done working.

77 posted on 08/15/2007 2:07:24 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

I think a big reason for this (and I’m 38) is that this is the time that men realize they’re not immortal, their bodies start to show signs of aging (and you can feel it, too), and importantly, we start noticing disease and mortality a lot more. We realize that at this age, despite western living standards, there may very well be fewer years ahead than there are behind.


78 posted on 08/15/2007 2:08:22 PM PDT by DesScorp
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To: toast

Wimin!


79 posted on 08/15/2007 2:08:30 PM PDT by null and void (I hate to suggest something this radical, but why not let the policy follow the facts? ~ReignOfError)
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To: null and void

NO!!!

Definitely Not!

(Oh, The Hugh Manatee!)


80 posted on 08/15/2007 2:08:57 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
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