Posted on 05/18/2010 7:50:17 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Stress, anger and worry fade after the landmark birthday when we begin experiencing greater daily joy than younger adults, it is claimed.
Despite increased risk of death and disease, it seems that people worry less and that they ignore the negatives and accentuate the positives.
Dr Arthur Stone, a psychologist of Stony Brook University, New York, said the findings were "striking".
"You would think as chronic illness threatens life would get worse but that is not the case because people don't focus on the threats," he said.
"They focus on the good things in life like family and friends."
A survey of more than 340,000 people published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found overall feelings of wellbeing improve as we pass middle age.
The researchers found positive and negative emotions varied with age similarly in both sexes – although women reported greater stress, worry and sadness at all ages.
Stress and anger reduced after people reached their early 20s with worry declining after the age of fifty.
Variables such as having young children, being unemployed, or being single did not affect age-related patterns of well being.
The research showed that levels of stress, worry and anger all dropped significantly in the fifties and levels of happiness and enjoyment increased.
The only feeling that remained constant was that of sadness. Overall feelings of well being increased in the fifties all the way up to the eighties, it was discovered.
The US participants answered yes-or-no questions regarding whether they had experienced enjoyment, happiness, stress, worry, anger and sadness during a large portion of the day prior to the call.
Researchers said the results are consistent with earlier research suggesting increased "wisdom" and emotional intelligence with age – at least through middle age.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
MORE FROM THE STUDY:
Older people also have an increased ability to self-regulate their emotions and view their situations positively and recall fewer negative memories than younger adults.
The researchers said: “They are also in accord with a ‘positivity effect’ wherein older people recall fewer negative memories than younger adults and with the possibility older adults are more effective at regulating their emotions than younger adults.”
Previous studies have shown increased life expectancy and widespread early retirement has created a much greater emphasis on “quality of life” among men and women in their fifties.
The consequence is instead of settling down to a stereotyped “jumpers and slippers” existence by the fireside many now pursue a vigorous social life in search of personal fulfilment.
Many more fiftysomethings see themselves as young and are adopting hedonistic attitudes as they imitate younger ways of living.
In other words, "It's all gravy from here on in."
Several family members, when they turned 50, took off and we’ve not caught up since.
waiting
waiting
Crap, I missed it.
Yet another half-arsed “scientific” study. Happiness begins when you make it begin. Period.
Well, hello...? We've already seen the good life at least sufficiently -- it's not like we've missed out on the really major things in life (well, okay, I still don't have grandchildren) -- but if God says "You're coming home tonight," who am I to argue?
I’lltake this as GOOD news then. At least I’ve got something to look forward to because, though life has had it’s positive points, it ain’t been all that up to about 45 LOL So I’ll look forward to that magic that suddenly changes things for the better at 50!
Sure, but I've seen "50" as a marker in my family. Maybe it's not in yours.
Anecdotal reference to a single family doesn’t make for a “scientific” study. We can all find “true” statements in our horoscopes, too - that doesn’t mean anyone can “read the stars.”
Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing.
It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage,
but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.
Confucius
I’d like to speak to those people above 50 who have been laid off from work. I wonder how easy it is for them to find another job at this age and how happy they are at their prospects....
Yah, whatever. Have a good life.
You know we get older everyday. Do you realize that the only time in our lives we like to get old is when we’re a little kids. Do you understand that? If your less than ten years old, you’re so excited about aging. You think in fractions…I’m four and a half…You’re never 36 and a half.
But you see, your four and a half, goin’ on 5. You see, that’s the key here. See, you’re “goin’ on.” You get into your teens. Now you’re so excited that you jump to the next number. How old are you? …I’m gonna be 16…You could be 12…but, your gonna be 16.
Then comes the greatest day of your life – You become 21. But you see, even the word sounds like a ceremony. You become 21…YES!…
But you TURN 30. It makes you sound like bad milk. He turned…so we had to throw him out.
Now what changes? What’s different? You become 21, you turn 30, and then…your pushing 40. Stay over there! See how its all slipping away?
You become 21, you turn 30, your pushing 40, and then…you reach REACH 50. (“Sob”) My dreams are gone!
So then you become 21, you turn 30, your pushing 40, you reach 50…and you MAKE IT to 60. “Whew”…I didn’t think I’d make it.
So…you become 21, you turn 30, your pushing 40, you reach 50, you make it to 60 and by then you built up so much speed…(smack) you hit 70.
After that, it’s pretty much day by day. After that you hit Wednesday. When you get into your 80’s you hit lunch…It turned 4:30.
My grandmother won’t even by green bananas.
When you get into your 90’s, you start going backwards…I was JUST 92.
And then folks…it’s an amazing thing…if you can make it over the age of 100, you become a little kid again. I’m 104 and a half.
-Larry Miller
Well then, you haven't lived! - Proud grand dad and Blackhawks fan - 3-0 over Sharks, just now.
That was an awesome statement by Larry Miller!
BULLs**t!!
The Hell they do.
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